The Film: "In the Council of Women"

This is the finished version of the film. For information on the making of the film, see the Film Info page. We hope you enjoy the film. Thank you to all who made it possible ... and especially to filmmaker extraordinaire Patricia Boiko.

The Pankisi Women's Stories Project Presents: In The Council of Women from Rusten Hogness on Vimeo.

The Pankisi Valley is a Muslim region near the Chechen border in the fiercely Christian republic of Georgia. These are the stories of women in Pankisi Valley who formed a Council of Women to represent the concerns of women (especially regarding women, children, and families) to the all-male Council of Elders in the Valley. The women reflect on their refugee and immigrant histories; on misleading stereotypes of Pankisi Valley; on the changing face of Islam there, as Saudi-sponsored Wahabism challenges the traditional, Sufi-inspired culture in Pankisi; on their proud traditions of generosity and community; and on the challenges of their everyday lives. They share their stories to promote better understanding of Pankisi Valley and of the roles of women there, for viewers both in Georgia and around the world.