"Die Wüstenärztin" tells the story of a German doctor in an unhappy marriage that is called to assist a tribe of bedouins in the desert, where she is confronted with outdated role models and a difficult choice between two men.
I think producers felt very modern shooting this. A strong woman that overcomes the patriarchat and makes her own decisions. So far, so good. Unfortunately in the process this film reproduces so many outdated stereotypes that the message is hardly perceived this way. Not only do the bedouins seem like they somehow timetravelled from the 16th century, bringing their lifestyle with them, it is also a weird statement to bring in the white european doctress to teach the oriental people about womens rights and self-deciding. At times it feels as if we still had colonies and she feels a need to explain a native tribe ways of decent living. To empower her it would have been more benefitial to let her find a way out of her routine at home than to just have her turn to the next man. Just not the best way to deliver your message.
All in all this is a case where a generally supportable message is presented with such a small worldview that you sit at home wondering why this is happening. If you want to make that point, do it right and don't flee into some Karl May scenarios of wild tribes saved by a white woman.
I think producers felt very modern shooting this. A strong woman that overcomes the patriarchat and makes her own decisions. So far, so good. Unfortunately in the process this film reproduces so many outdated stereotypes that the message is hardly perceived this way. Not only do the bedouins seem like they somehow timetravelled from the 16th century, bringing their lifestyle with them, it is also a weird statement to bring in the white european doctress to teach the oriental people about womens rights and self-deciding. At times it feels as if we still had colonies and she feels a need to explain a native tribe ways of decent living. To empower her it would have been more benefitial to let her find a way out of her routine at home than to just have her turn to the next man. Just not the best way to deliver your message.
All in all this is a case where a generally supportable message is presented with such a small worldview that you sit at home wondering why this is happening. If you want to make that point, do it right and don't flee into some Karl May scenarios of wild tribes saved by a white woman.