Hidden Heart

Hidden Heart is a documentary film that sheds light on the courage, joys, and suffering of women in inter-cultural/faith relationships. In candid portraits, the film's protagonists struggle to understand their heritage, faith, and roles in a multicultural society. It is being made by Independent Filmmaker Zara Afzal and Executive Producers Christopher Hird of Dartmouth Films and Tehmina Kazi (Director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy).

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

In a country representing upwards of 270 nationalities, 300 languages and 400 registered political parties, it’s difficult not to mingle. While it may seem inevitable that such exposure has led to a rise in inter-cultural and inter-faith relationships over time, this “natural” integration comes with deep pain and hardship for many people, especially within British Muslim communities, where mixed relationships are taboo. We need to engage the public on these issues ASAP. With engagement comes openness, discussion, familiarity, and ultimately change. But we need your help.

What inspired Hidden Heart?

My journey in making this film began in December 2010, off the back of my own experience being in an inter-cultural relationship. While I was fortunate to have the support and love of my family, I realised this isn’t the case for many women. There is a strong stigma attached to inter-cultural and inter-faith relationships within British Muslim communities. I came across women who were hiding their relationship and living a double life for fear of exile or conflict with their close family and friends. I wanted to discuss and explore the cultural and emotional challenges many of these women face within their families and communities, and find out why it’s taboo to love across faiths – why is there so much shame, and so much secrecy?

The aim of Hidden Heart is to shed light on the courage, joys, and suffering of women crossing these faith and cultural divides. In candid portraits, the film's protagonists struggle to understand their heritage, faith, and roles in a multicultural society. The bits of the film we've shown have resonated with women across the globe, cultures and belief systems, who are under pressure from tight-knit communities to conform to a prescribed identity.

Why the name Hidden Heart?

The film is called Hidden Heart because for many people this is still a love that dare not speak its name. This film aims to be a part of a movement which challenges taboos and stereotypes impacting such a love. With humour and insight, the film tells a moving story of prejudice, courage, and triumph over that prejudice.

Why is this film important?

This is a subject that is very relevant to the challenges that first and second generation Muslim women face in today's multicultural society. By showing the very real and tender struggles between individual desires and familial attitudes, Hidden Heart aims to increase cultural understanding in Britain. It will show a striking vision of a new Muslim Identity, defying the stereotype that Islam is in opposition to the West.

The Human Rights Act expressly promotes the right of choice in marriage. By highlighting these womens' stories in the public debate, I hope Hidden Heart will inspire the development of useful support outlets for these women and their families, and alert people to this human freedom that is being encroached upon. Hidden Heart will appeal to women's rights activists, interfaith groups and community support groups all working toward breaking down prejudice and fostering understanding between people.

About the Hidden Heart Crowd-Funding Campaign

This film is almost finished, but we really need your help to make it through post-production.

We believe our best chance of making the film with the sensitivity it deserves is to make it independently – i.e. outside television – and then distribute it through festivals and independent cinemas to build a following for the film. But to make it independently, we need support.

So far, we have filmed a great deal of amazing material, which needs to be turned into a polished rough cut that we can show to potential broadcasters and distributors. We are at the stage where we need an experienced editor who can help tell these remarkable stories in the best way possible - a part of filmmaking as important as it is undervalued.

If you think these are powerful stories worth telling, please donate what you can and share this video with as many people as you can (shar.es/MxSjF) through blogs, emails, Tweets, and Facebook posts. With engagement comes openness, discussion, familiarity, and ultimately change. 

     xx Zara and the Hidden Heart team

Please support this hugely important film by helping us reach our crowdfunding target!

 

Follow the film's progress!

 

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