Veils Uncovered

For sale on the market of the Syrian capital Damascus: lingerie of transparent plastic, adorned with zippers, feathers, flashlights and even some tunes on microchips. The contrast with the customers’ black veils could not be greater. The Canadian documentary filmmaker Noura Kevorkian, who emigrated from Lebanon as a teenager, looked for women who had the courage to lift their veils. Although it is difficult to find women who would accept to talk to the camera, not to mention reveal some personal things, Kevorkian talks with a few brave ones about their concealed sexuality. Under the many layers of clothing, modern-looking women often appear to be hidden. Kevorkian asks them how they seduce their husbands and why it is important to attract and hold their attention. Sometimes, this even involves a belly dance or a wedding dress, she is told. The women share a strong solidarity: together, they wax, polish their nails, scrub their skin and discuss their problems. The use of a hand-held camera in dim rooms intensifies the intimate atmosphere of the film project, which otherwise looks a lot like a travelogue. Due to the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on 11 September 2001, Kevorkian was forced to leave Syria headlong. The director herself composed and sang the two Arabic songs that are performed a cappella on the soundtrack. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)