Screening of the documentary "Commander Arian" at the UPF Poblenou campus
05.02.2019
On the 30th of January, the UPF received Catalan filmmaker Alba Sotorra at the Poblenou campus to discuss and view her documentary "Commander Arian". The documentary, filmed in Kobane, Syria, followed the 'Women's Protection Unit' (WPU), a military organisation that aimed to fight the Islamic State and free women from oppression. From the perspective of the unit's leader, commander Arian, Alba Sotorra shows how the group uses feminist values to regain freedom in Syria and simultaneously aims to empower women in the area. Thus, not only does the group has the objective of taking their home back from IS, but also to transform its social and political structures.
After an introduction by Alba Sotorra herself, the documentary was shown to the full auditorium that watched the 77 minutes long film in complete silence. When the credits started, the full room applauded enthusiastically and it was clear that everyone was impressed by the documentary.
Following on the screening, a Q&A started with Alba Sotorra, where the audience was given the chance to ask her questions about the content of her documentary, but also about the cinematic aspect of her movie, including questions which filming techniques she used and how she came in touch with the WPU. She told the audience that she regularly visited to the area over a period of several years, and how she became a 'comrade' of the WPU during her time there.
More information about Alba Sotorra can be found on her website: http://www.albasotorra.com/. If you want to know more about the movie, you can also find this on her website.