Escaping the Arrangement. Forced Marriages in European Muslim Diasporic Films
Escaping the Arrangement. Forced Marriages in European Muslim Diasporic Films
Abstract
While the issue of forced and arranged marriages is rarely explored by scholars of family sociology in Islamic contexts and seldom occupies a central position in the cinemas of Muslim-majority countries, it appears surprisingly often in European diasporic films portraying Muslim-background migrant characters. The first part of this article outlines key studies on the contested yet persistent practice of arranged marriages in Islam. It is followed by an examination of the recurring plot structure in films addressing the topic. Regardless of whether these films adopt a comedic or dramatic tone and whether they are produced exclusively in Europe or co-produced with countries outside Europe (such as Tunisia, Pakistan, or Turkey), young male and female protagonists consistently reject the notion of arranged marriage. Four films are subject to detailed narrative and genre analysis: EAST IS EAST (Damien O’Donnell, UK 1999), AE FOND KISS ... (Ken Loach, UK 2004), VINGAR AV GLAS (WINGS OF GLASS, Reza Bagher, SE 2000), and NOCES (A WEDDING, Stephan Streker, BE 2016). Ultimately, all these films discredit the practice of arranged and forced marriages, often linking it to the collapse of paternal authority. They also highlight the unequal gender dynamics at play, showing that refusing an arranged marriage tends to carry far greater risks and consequences for women than for men.
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Creative Commons - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen
Creative Commons - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen
Keywords:
European CinemaIslam and CultureMuslims in FilmIslam in FilmArranged Marriage