MovieChat Forums > Brick Lane (2008) Discussion > Perhaps a different view.

Perhaps a different view.

posted 15 years ago by paulcreeden
9 replies | jump to latest

I do not think the film, as a film, was rubbish. Technically, it achieved the sentimental arc which was probably intended. It was well shot. The acting was good. The editing was fair.

My objection is the message. The message seems to be that women should continue to be responsible for/to absolutely everyone and everything in their lives, even an abusive, boorish idiot of a husband and an infantile exploitive boyfriend. Perhaps this, above all, is my objection to those who submit to Muslim orthodoxy, or any religious orthodoxy. They all center on the control of women.

This troubles me greatly as an American. In OUR culture, which the Muslim world seems suddenly to despise generally, women struggled very hard to ascend to an equal standing with men financially, educationally and in civic matters. We have led the world in human rights liberation movements. Yet, we bend over backwards to ingest the sentimental poison inherent in films like this, rather than dismiss them as backward, anti-equality and anti-enlightenment.

Until all women are free from the tyrrany of religion and men, the world will not progress.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] paulcreeden 15 years ago

My objection is not simply to Islam. It is to all forms of religious orthodoxy OR traces of that orthodoxy as manipulated by culture/tradition.. It all looks to the past, tradition, and belief in rules dictated by power-hungry men to control the masses, especially female masses. The men who invented these religions used the superstitions of their times to intimidate everyone. Belief in an all-powerful invisible being who sees and controls all is simply primitive, in my opinion. I might add that that opinion has been informed by many years of study of religion, culture and politics, as well as the physical sciences.

Now, I do not ask anyone to subscribe to that opinion, unlike Christian/Muslim crusdaers/jihadists who have for centuries impaled, beheaded, burned and bombed those who differ on these points. To say Christianity/Islam is a religion of peace is simply a lie. I think you need to re-read the history of Christian/Muslim conquest, inspired by the originators of the religion. To draw a false dichotomy between Christianity/Islam and the cultures it has shaped for centuries is equally disingenuous, naive, deluded or simply deceitful.

Whether one likes to admit it or not, Islam and Christianity are still tools of those who oppress, not liberate. I once was told by a member of the Saudi royal family: "Here that? (a Cairo mosque was calling people to prayer) That is the sound of our control over the masses."

I will add that St. Peter's basilica is a similar symbol of oppression of the masses.

NOTE: Christian/Muslim should be read as Christian OR Muslim or Islam

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] walidb123 15 years ago

I disagree with your view on 'Muslim orthodoxy.' What the film showed was not a religious household in which they were following Islam in all matters - that is obvious because of the way the woman seems to be completely ignored and mistreated by her husband. What is shown is tradition rather than religion.

The simple fact that the young man who was involved in the adulterous relationship with the married woman was also a public speaker about 'protecting Islam' showed that he was a complete hyprocite and preached about something which he himself didn't believe in: That adultery is a sin in Islam.

To say that Islam is the reason for her situation is completely misinformed because it obviously shows that you yourself don't even know proper Islamic law but are basing your perspectives on misrepresented and incorrect views about Islam. In Islam the woman is definitely allowed a divorce if she thinks that is what is needed - nowhere in the religion itself does it say otherwise. She is not compelled by her religion to stay married or carry on with her relationships.

It is understandable that you may think that Islam is responsible for the woman's oppression because you may think that the majority of the countries in which women are seen lower than men are in predominantly muslim countries. This is however not the case because it is TRADITION which calls for such behaviour and a complete ignorance and misunderstanding of Islam which brings about such issues and not islam itself.

[–] paulcreeden 15 years ago

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] siggs 15 years ago

That was an interesting post Walidb123.

[–] thatsmydesire 15 years ago

Thank you for your accurate post, walidb123. Salaam.

[–] ready-for-the-good-times 14 years ago

So you were in Cairo with a member of the Saudi royal family? How did that come about