"Beyond Belief" is Second Sunday Cinema's free film for September 14th.
"Beyond Belief" is an inspiring and moving documentary that follows (for years) two Boston mothers who both lost their husbands on 9/11/01. Brought together by friends, at first they form a unique bond in supporting one another in their profound loss. But not long after, they learn that they are far from alone. They learn that there are more than a half-million war widows in desperate straits in Afghanistan, some of whose husbands were killed by US bombings.
Out of compassion, they turn from their own pain and loss and decide to see what they can do to help these women, who have none of the advantages of their American counterparts. Most Afghani women can neither read nor write, and so find it next to impossible to find work. Most widows were totally dependent on their deceased husbands. Most have at least five children, and must now feed and clothe them on less than $16 a month. By tradition, if they remarry they must give all their children to their deceased husbands' families.
Patti and Susan, the US widows, find ways to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help these women develop ways to support themselves and their children. The money goes to buy chicks that will grow to lay eggs that will be sold. It also goes for education, so that the women who desire to learn can do so.
When Patti and Susan finally are able to visit the widows they've helped in Afghanistan, the filmmakers go too, to capture these meetings. It's hard to explain in words just why this film is so special. Is it the great openness that Patti and Susan show all through their lives during these years? Is it watching as they heal and grow out of their personal grief by opening their hearts to others? Is it watching them absorb just how strong the Afghani women are, as they see how very, very little they have? Perhaps it is this film's deep authenticity throughout. "I wept like a baby throughout the entire film," says Anthony Kaufmann in his IndieWire review. I believe that many of his tears (and mine) spring not from pure sadness, but from the beauty and privilege of sharing this ultimately very positive story of strong women, here and far away. If you see this film, you will agree that it is indeed, "Beyond Belief".
As always, the film is totally free and our venue as always is the Clearlake United Methodist Church at 14521 Pearl Ave. near Mullen in Clearlake. Our doors open at 5:30 so you can grab a snack, perhaps, and a good seat. The film starts at 6 PM. Following the film, there is always time to hang out and talk. More information is available at 279-2957 or
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. We look forward to seeing you there.
