Freedom Fields Film Difficulty Ranking: 3
Freedom Fields follows a group of Libyan women trying to start up the women’s Libyan football team. They’ve all grown up watching sports stars like Messi and Ronaldo and want to be just like them. However, in a fiercely patriarchal society, their dreams are under threat from extremist preachers and their conservative followers.
From: Libya, Africa
Watch: Trailer
Next: Wadjda, The Eagle Huntress, Girlhood
Why Watch Freedom Fields?
- Experience the Libya you don’t see on the news
- See how the war has affected everyday life
- If you’re a true football or sports fan
- Witness the battle for equality in Libya
The Breakdown
Freedom Fields starts with a lot of positivity. You’ll meet some of the members of the Libyan women’s football team, and hear about their passion for football and how it has become a huge part of their lives. In the introduction the football team exists, all the members are happy, and there are no signs of the Libyan war. It’s a Libya with dreams, passion, and freedom.
However, as you’d expect, the film sets up the hurdles the football players and the Libyan women’s team have to jump. Firstly, there’s the extremist pastors incensed that women are allowed to play football in shorts and t-shirts, thus exposing their skin to the world. Secondly, the signs of the war start to appear. You’ll hear the sounds of machine gun bursts and see the border patrol preventing anyone from leaving the country or visiting. These signs kill the optimism of the film’s opening – they’re images of the Libya we expect to see on the news.
It’s at this point that the film stops as the footballer’s dreams are put on life support because of the war and religious intolerance. It starts again, 5 years later to see what has become of them. Have they become a part of the background of violence and repression, or do they still dream?
Cars & Privacy
A lot of Freedom Fields takes place in the footballer’s cars. You’ll be with them as the women are driving to football practice, driving home from work, or just cruising around the city. These moments are memorable, because it’s the only private place which allows them to be who they are. In their cars, they are free from judgment of their families and society. Therefore it’s no surprise that it’s in their cars that their true personality starts to appear and where we can truly get to know them.
What to Watch Next
If you’re looking for more films where women fight for their freedom in patriarchal societies, check out Wadjda and The Eagle Huntress. Wadjda takes place in Saudi Arabia where young Wadjda is desperate to buy a bike to race her male friend. The Eagle Huntress takes place in Mongolia, where a young girl wants to fly eagles just like her dad. Both face fierce opposition from the men in their communities.
Or if you’re looking for another film featuring a group of young women trying to find their way in the world, check out Girlhood from France.
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