Tari Danawidjaja, Contributor, Jakarta
Women are often portrayed as vulnerable and emotionally unstable.
For these very reasons, people tend to see them with one eye only. Perhaps this stereotype will cease to exist as more and more heroines are born.
If we were to look back in time, how many heroines could we name? There are many of course. However, the term ""heroine"" may not be used as often as ""hero"".
It's not a matter of words but more a matter of their battle with the world around them -- the battle of women striving to make changes within their world.
This year JiFFest is showing six movies that feature women prominently. They are Marie Antoinette, The Queen, Sabah, Viva Algeria, Volver and Water.
These movies, grouped in the Women section, mainly portray the battle of women in a variety of ways, from making changes in society to maintaining their dignity amid immense public scrutiny.
Marie Antoinette -- the Austrian woman who was married to King Louis XVI -- was up against the rigid surroundings of Versailles. The young and naive woman strove to find an answer to the scandal around her.
Unlike Marie Antoinette who at least enjoyed a social life, in the movie Water, Chuyia, an 8-year-old bride, who is sent to a home for Hindu widows after her husband's death, could not say no to the decision made by her family.
Tradition forces Chuyia to stay in the home to atone for her past ""sins"". In her solitude, Chuyia finally becomes the friend of another widow.
Tradition or customs have restricted women's freedom of movement. This can be seen in Sabah (Coldwater), a Canadian movie that tells a story of Sabah, a 40-year-old Muslim woman.
Her relationship with her non-Muslim boyfriend is opposed by the family. She continues to find ways to meet him. This kind of story line might have been used many times before in movies but the underlining point is that cultural or religious differences can still cause tensions.
Despite its story of sadness and controversy, the Women section also presents The Queen, which tells us about the dignity of a high-profile woman. The film is directed by Stephen Frears and stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II.
Now, what is the meaning of striving for something that all these heroines cannot have? Well, being in a battle is not always about winning it. However, knowing how you can win the battle can bring greater impact to your life, just as it did for these other heroines.
Some are fighting for their dignity while others are in conflict with their customs, or even themselves. The story of women's struggles is a never-ending battle.
Marie Antoinette -- which is directed by a famous woman director, Sofia Coppola -- shows how a woman was used for political ends. The story is well-known; ultimately it ended in tragedy, and will remain lodged in our memories.
Volver, a Spanish movie directed by Pedro Almodovar, tells the story of a brave mother, Raimunda (Penelope Cruz), who is protecting her daughter. This movie highlights the woman's action and motherhood.
Another depiction of the life of women is portrayed in Algerian movie, Viva Algeria. Set in modern Algiers, the movie tells a story of a woman caught up in a shabby life as a mistress.
Viva Algeria reflects the lot of women who become mistresses or work as prostitutes for financial reasons.
There is no battle without a cause. These stories of heroines may be fictitious, but their battles are very real.
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