The Bad Girls of Arabic Music
From the 8th century to the present day

As so many women around the world rise up against the frequent disrespect and violence they still have to endure, I wanted to make a film that pays tribute to some of the female Arab musicians who have known how to claim this respect, by expressing themselves with their art and their femininity. From the 8th century until today: we meet a young Egyptian rapper, revisit the great figures such as Oum Kalthoum, Asmahan and recognize Warda El Djezaïria, and Cheikha Remitti...

With this feature film of an hour and twenty minutes, I want to show how these women were able to refuse the dictates that religion, society, family group… wanted to impose on them. How these artists expressed themselves, how they position themselves today, how their fathers or their husbands behaved, and the lives they led and endured.

Why this movie?

In the current context - where there is so much amalgam of beliefs - it seems urgent and necessary to speak "differently" about these women - and these cultures - in order to compensate a little for how these women are often unrecognized and mistrusted in our country.

This ignorance and disinterest of Arab cultures, I feel, is a continuum of what was colonialism and there is something akin to a kind of cultural racism. It seems to me that given the current tensions - particularly with regard to young people living in the outskirts of our cities - it is necessary to have respect for the Arabic cultures of the parents and grandparents of these younger generations who are so often misunderstood.

The recent terrorist attacks in France have further accentuated this phenomenon of mistrust and even fear towards Arabic cultures and people. Therefor it is urgent to recall the beauty and the richness of these cultures that share so much sweetness, happiness and joy with us. And, obviously, I wanted to talk about women, since I am part of this community.

As I did not have any images of this early period (8th century), I worked with a young Iranian visual artist - Samira Ahmadi Ghotbi - who created beautiful drawings that "play" amongst the footage I filmed in the Bardenas desert in Spain, in Cordoba and in Cairo.

Throughout the film, a young Afghan actress: Wazhma Bahar, appears as an embodying presence and Johanna Nizard - a French-Tunisian actress - reads my text in the manner of “A Thousand and One Nights" - to tell this fabulous story that is accompanied by Yousra Dhahbi playing the oud.

For the first time I am seeking participation for the support in the creation of my new feature film which had just entering in the post-production phase. I invite you to dive in with me into this new adventure, paved with beautiful surprises in the heart of these cultures and in these unrecognized lives.

Who Am I?

After having made fourteen films in twenty years, for the first time I am launching a participative campaign for this film which is particularly close to my heart given the current political and social context.

I have also participated in organizing several music festivals, made experimental short films, as well as projected my award-winning musical films in many International Festivals. I have just received the FILAF 2019 honorary award for all my films (International Festival of Art Books and Film).

I also have worked closely with Jeff Mills on several films on techno and music from Detroit.

A filmmaker and also a writer, I have published books of conversations with atypical artists from the second half of the twentieth century. I have created radio programs for France Culture and my films have been screened in many national and international festivals and in museums. My work has also moved into the universe of visuals arts in the medium of small intimate dioramas.

A list of my filmography and my publications are available here: www.jacquelinecaux.com

The Bad Girls of Arabic Music - from the 8th century to the present day

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