email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

FILMS Bosnia and Herzegovina

Review: Undercovered

by 

- Nejra Latić Hulusić and Sabrina Begović-Ćorić take an in-depth look at six women who have opted to wear headscarves out of choice, for various different reasons

Review: Undercovered

The question of whether a headscarf is a symbol of female oppression or empowerment does not cease to invite all kinds of musings – liberal, philosophical, socio-political and religious. On the other hand, there are places in the world where this is not a matter of choice, but rather a mandatory part of women’s lives, and in these places, not wearing it can lead to severe punishment. Turning their gaze elsewhere – to Bosnia, their home, and a country of moderate Muslim practices, where women are free to decide how they dress – directors Nejra Latić Hulusić and Sabrina Begović-Ćorić, “one covered and one uncovered”, take an in-depth look at six women who have decided to cover their heads as an act of rebellion against the Western interpretation of female liberation, but also out of dedication to the religion they are practising. Undercovered [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 is an emotional take on a controversial topic, which feels like a school essay written during a period of heartbreak, with romanticised undertones aided by the music and sound design by Mirza Šišić.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The camera mainly focuses on the women’s faces. Bearing in mind that the film was inspired by the intolerance that one of the directors (Latić Hulusić) suffered due to her own personal choices, this approach seems logical, especially in light of the previous works that have emerged from the filmmakers’ joint production company, Hava, founded in 2011. The directorial duo has been dedicated to the affirmation of women in culture, human rights, diversity and the education of young filmmakers ever since. Together, they have produced eight films, and this is their first medium-length documentary.

The 53-minute piece, which premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, starts with a short introduction to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s history, which is crucial to understanding what kind of impact the various different conquerors and political ideologies have had on the female dress code. There is a reminder about a law brought into effect in 1951 by Tito’s communist party, which “was involved in every aspect of life”, banning the veiling of the face. This changed in the 1980s, after the first flurry of democratic changes.

Selecting self-accomplished women who have succeeded in building their careers against all odds, fighting against prejudice, scorn and even their own families, worried about the consequences of their daughters’ choices, Undercovered directors Latić Hulusić and Begović-Ćorić show that wearing a headscarf doesn’t necessarily represent female oppression, nor the pressure imposed by society and male family members. A young, award-winning photographer (Tesnim, 18), a graphic designer (Lejla, 34), an interpreter and researcher (Djermana, 35), an artist  (Amina, 31), a taxi driver (Merjem, 38) and her karate-practising daughter (Nusejba, 20) reveal their reasons for choosing to cover themselves in a series of interviews, most of them symbolically shot in the anti-fascist Vraca Memorial Park in Sarajevo.

“In my social context, where I live, [the headscarf] presents an instruction from the Quran to be recognised and to be protected from harassment,” says Djermana, underlining that she’s aware that “wearing a headscarf in Iran is a different thing”.

Undercovered, which attracted a wide audience at the LET’S CEE Film Festival, was produced, directed, written and edited by both directors, in association with the Bosnian Film Foundation, and was developed with the help of the Balkan Documentary Center, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Sarajevo Film Festival’s Docu Rough Cut Boutique and Refiner.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy