Ah, the Oscars! The dresses, the jewelry, the hair, the makeup. It’s all so fun!
I love the glizt and glamour, but the news last week of “Am I Ugly” and then Tumblr announcing a new policy against “self-harm” blogs has me more pensive and eager to steer conversations away from vanity. Furthermore, I was really moved by Melissa Silverstein’s presentation talking about how women directors are not even “in the conversation” when it comes to choosing Oscar films.
I knew there would be something very special last night for women. I found that gem when Saving Face an HBO Short film on abuses against women in Pakistan won the Oscar for Best Documentary (short).
This is a film that tells the story of two women, 39-year-old Zakia whose husband threw acid on her after she filed for divorce, and Rukhsana, a 25-year-old whose husband and in-laws threw acid and gasoline on her and then set her on fire. The film then takes us through how those women are cared for with help from the Acid Survivors Foundation, as well as doctors and policymakers. The documentary follows the push for legislation that will impose strict sentencing for the perpetrators.
Saving Face will debut on March 8 on HBO. Here’s the trailer:
What was your favorite moment from the 2012 Academy Awards?
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Ellen Padnos lives in Manhattan Beach, CA with her husband, Ben, her children Anthony (5), and Annie (18 months), and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lola. You can also follow her on Twitter (@ellenpadnos).
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