Against My Will

"I wouldn't dream of trusting my family." - Anita

"Against My Will" is a documentary about women in a crisis centre in Pakistan. The relief centre Dastak was founded in 1990 by the AGHS, a cooperation of lawyers offering women free judicial council. Among Dastak’s founders are Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani.

The documentary focuses on three women who have taken refuge in relief centre Dastak. Anita was married off at 14-years-old to a man in his seventies and after seven years of marriage decides to run off. Razia, a woman of 34-years-old, was burned by her husband some years ago. After roaming for several years she receives shelter in the relief centre. Kubra has been abused by her husband and refuses to return to him. The three women are all threatened with death for violating the family honour. Kubra’s brave choice is fatal: by murdering her the family honour is repaired.

"A heartbreaking documentary about honor killings in Pakistan." - www.indiewire.com

"Outspoken and poignant. The film does an excellent job of conveying the horror and humanity of the lives of these women. The combination of footage from the shelter, the legal office and scenes and interviews from Kubra's village and family make AGAINST MY WILL a very powerful statement against 'honor killings." - Al Jadid, A Review & Record of Arab Culture and Arts

"Recommended!" - Educational Media Reviews Online

• > 2005 National Women's Studies Association Film Festival
• > 2004 Association for Asian Studies Film Festival
• > 2003 Prix Italia, Best Human Interest Documentary
• > 2003 Middle East Studies Association FilmFest
• > 2003 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (Greece)
• > 2002 Amsterdam International Documentary Festival