Documentary Film: Showgirls of Pakistan

`Even if I will be in a burqa they will still be after me`.

Introduced during the Mughal Indian Empire - 1526-1857 - and criminalized during the British rule in the 19th century, murja dances are making a come-back as entertainment dance in Pakistan, but the dancers are often victims of everyda violence perpetrated by men and tacitly accepted by politicians and representatives of the police. A VICE production, Showgirls of Pakistan offers during almost two hours intimate shootings an unique view of the everyday life of those dancers. 

I´ve watched the movie with a big curiosity, particularly regarding the dance in itself, and some of the participants do dance in such a seamless dynamic way that made me so jealous. Those women are so passionate about what they are doing, turning into balls of fire in the front of (mostly men) audiences in awe. But being a woman dancer has its toll and often the girls are victims of death threats and some are even beaten, shot death by partners or people following religious instigators. Women should be aware of men´s values which also includes considering the family values and honor besides anything else.

It is a world changing on the go, which may start with the innocent ´How´s life treating my fans?´ on social media and end up in a bloodbath. The direct intimate access the crew got into the everyday life, including the ups and downs of the relationships, the betrayal and making over, creates an interesting overview of the situation. 

Showgirls of Pakistan reveals the social interactions and dynamics in nowadays Pakistan - I´ve found fascinating and would definitely love to learn more about the ´guru´ system, and how it really works as both an entreprise and source of prestige/or denial of it - but also the everyday cruelty and frustrations, which reflects in a language of a highest level of aggressivity. 

There is no need of complaining or rolling the eyes in contempt, this is how things are.  Humans do have sometimes such a horrid way of turning everything beautiful and free - like mujra dances, for instance - into a tool of ugliness. If there is something we, as humans, we can do, is to stop forcing ourself to judge the others according to our narrow mindness and leave people - particularly women - to breath free. Which is an utopian wish at a very great extent, obviously.