Film Screening of Docudrama Tidar (Marriage) at SOAS University of London

On June 19, Project dldl/ድልድል will hold a screening of its docudrama Tidar (Marriage), an educational film co-produced in Ethiopia and the UK to raise awareness about the role of religious beliefs and faith in domestic violence experiences.

Based on real people’s stories and testimonies collected through long-term ethnographic research and direct engagement with faith communities in Ethiopia, docudrama Tidar (Marriage) tells the story of Genet, who is experiencing domestic violence, and presents her search for a moral and practical solution to her situation within the village community. It shows how the community responds to Genet’s predicament and how personal faith, religious mediation and theological teaching influence how she thinks through her situation. The aim of the film is to raise awareness about the complex role that religion can have in situations of domestic violence in the Ethiopian Orthodox community, influencing both victim and perpetrator rationalisations and behaviour. The film is re-enacted by Amharic-speaking actors in Ethiopia, with subtitles being produced in Tigrigna, Afaan Oromoo and English.

The film was written and led by Dr Romina Istratii, produced by Hermon Hailay and Max Conil of Exile Pictures and directed by Yidnekachew Shumete of Kurat Pictures. The production was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the Future Leaders Fellowship grant ‘Bridging religious studies, gender & development and public health to address domestic violence” (Grant Ref: MR/T043350/1) and is part of project dldl/ድልድል, a research and innovation project dedicated to the development and strengthening of religio-culturally sensitive domestic violence alleviation systems in East Africa and the UK.

You may watch the multilingual on the Project dldl/ድልድል Vimeo account and directly below.

The language of the film version is Amharic and the film will be screened with English subtitles.

Awards and recognitions

The film has been nominated for the Learning on Screen Awards and has received broadcast time on Ethiopian entertainment news.

Q&A session

The film screening will be followed by a short Q&A with the film writers, producers and directors to enable the audience to ask questions and clarifications about the making of the film.

Reception event

The event will end with a reception in the Senate House Cloister accompanied by refreshments and nibbles. In view of religious and dietary preferences, participants will have the option to choose from alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and all nibbles will be vegan.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

SOAS University of London, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London, United Kingdom