‘Femme: Women Healing the World’ Preview

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Jenny Hong

The Santa Barbara and Tri-Country Chapter of the United States Association is hosting a screening of a documentary called “Femme: Women Healing the World” on April 28. The showing will be held in Majorie Luke Theater at Santa Barbara Junior High School. The entrance fee for this film will be $10 for general admission and $5 for students. This film is a documentary of how women changed the world in regards to politics, science, history, spirituality, religion, and philosophy.

“The purpose of the film is truly to reach out and empower women to ‘run for office,’ which means [that] not only women should be involved more and more in politics because this is how you deeply change a society, but [also that] women should also run for office at their school, at their church, at their sport club or any club they are a part of,” said Emmanuel Itier, director of this documentary.

Itier first came upon this project when he was directing a different film called “The Invocation” While doing this project, he met many influential women like Karen Armstrong and Sharon Stone, who is the executive producer for “Femme: Women Healing the World,” and as well as many more women.

“I wanted to do a movie that was going to empower more women and educate men,” said Itier. “This is the first feminist movie done by a macho and therefore it doesn’t only reach out to women, but it’s also a self-help movie for men to understand women.”

Itier worked and interviewed many different women who were particularly influential to this world. Some of the women that are featured in this film include Marianne Williamson, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Marilyn Tam, Jean Houston, and Jean Shinoda Bolen. Itier joined hands with Barbara Gaughen-Muller, the president of the Santa Barbara UNA-USA chapter, and decided to host the film screening right here at Santa Barbara.

“This film shows women across the world in more than 50 countries,” said third-year communication major Melanie Monifi, who is also the Communication and Media Relations Chair at the United Nations Association USA Santa Barbara & Tri-Counties Chapter. “As a local branch, we want to open the eyes of our community to world harmony that can be achieved by not only women, but the harmony of men and women. This film may be titled ‘Femme: Women Healing the World,’ but we see it as a film to show how women have a greater impact on this changing world with more equality occurring each day between men and women. This film screening is not about enhancing the feminine or masculine spirit, but the human spirit, the harmony of men and women across the world.”

She’s also the person who contacts local colleges such as the University of California, Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College, and their academic departments in order to invite students to UNA’s events for a cheaper price than the general admission. In fact, the low student admission ticket price not only includes the film, but also includes the chance to hear the director speak and meet special guests who will be appearing after the film.

“Our future depends on each of us,” said the president of the United Nations Association USA Santa Barbara & Tri-Counties Chapter, Barbara Gaughen-Muller. “Students, especially UCSB students, are the cream of the crop: creative, innovative. Their energies may need focusing and encouraging them via these inspiring women may bring a whole new generation of women who will make this a better world. My late husband, as a college student, won an UN essay contest with his essay about how he would govern the world. The first prize was an internship at the UN where he retired 40 years later as UN Assistant Secretary General. I believe we all have the potential and grassroots efforts will begin with this documentary.”

She strongly recommends students, especially those who are women, to come to the screening for a night of inspiration and passion.

For more information about the film screening, visit unasb.org.