The Cut
Short documentary about Mary (aged 14 years) and Alice (who is in her
early 20's) from Kenya. Both are affected by the traditional rite of
passage into womanhood: genital cutting. Mary and her community are
preparing for her ceremonial cutting, and Alice is studying to be a
social worker to work against female genital mutilation. As the first in
her community to refuse the practice, Alice has paid a high price for
her choice to break with tradition. Alice tells of the different myths
she encounters in the community around her, as to why circumcision is
practiced. Mary, on the other hand, has no voice. She just goes through
the preparations and rituals in silence.
October 24, 2009 -- The Cut Documentary is a factual and informative short film, describing the effect on women's lives of FGM or female genital mutilation.
Film maker and writer Linda May Kallestein, made The Cut Documentary to spread worldwide awareness of the issues around this practice. Female genital mutilation is a huge problem that affects 120 - 140 million women all over the world. That is about the same amount of all the female population in the USA today. An additional 2 to 3 million girls from the age of newborn to 15 years old, are added to their ranks every single year. This means about at least 6000 girls today alone. Who feel their genitals being sliced off. By a razor blade. A knife. A piece of broken glass.
It happens in many African countries, some Middle Eastern and also some Asian. Traditionally, that is. Due to migration, it is also taking place in virtually every country that has immigrants from these countries. It might be happening closer than you think.
Kallestein says, "The topic is not pretty. We are talking about immediate suffering and death, and long term suffering and death. Despite the disgust we feel at the very thought of it, we should not look away. Young girls, who are unable to defend theirselves, are the vicitims. They suffer in silence. We can help by giving them a voice."
"The Cut" gives these girls a voice. Help spread it to make this voice heard all over the planet. Support the victims even more by demanding that female genital mutilation must stop. Unlike many other problems our world suffers from, where there is a lack of resources and much needs to be done, here the answer lays in the simple solution of not doing something anymore. It simply needs to stop.
You can be their voice. You can say, "Just Stop It"
The controversial tradition at the heart of African culture has now
reached the shores of Europe. Today, over 500 British girls are
estimated to have undergone the procedure of female genital cutting.
Many young girls would get excited at the prospect of going on holiday but Jamelia knew that the plane she boarded was taking her to be 'circumcised'. Jamelia was cut in an empty mansion by an old woman, strangers held her down and a clean razor was only used when more money exchanged hands. "I remember the blood everywhere", Jamelia says, "one of the maids actually saw her pick up the bit of flesh they cut out." Miriam's womb was accidentally sealed when she was cut and now she cannot have children. "It will stay with me until the day I die." Now, the NHS confirms that cutters are flown over to the UK to cut girls in batches - a cheap alternative. The UK has more girls at risk of bring cut than any other European country and as yet no-one has been prosecuted for the crime.
Many young girls would get excited at the prospect of going on holiday but Jamelia knew that the plane she boarded was taking her to be 'circumcised'. Jamelia was cut in an empty mansion by an old woman, strangers held her down and a clean razor was only used when more money exchanged hands. "I remember the blood everywhere", Jamelia says, "one of the maids actually saw her pick up the bit of flesh they cut out." Miriam's womb was accidentally sealed when she was cut and now she cannot have children. "It will stay with me until the day I die." Now, the NHS confirms that cutters are flown over to the UK to cut girls in batches - a cheap alternative. The UK has more girls at risk of bring cut than any other European country and as yet no-one has been prosecuted for the crime.
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