“I wanted to do something to throw a little spark of beauty” into America’s perception of Syria, filmmaker Jean Marie Offenbacher said of her new documentary Tea on the Axis of Evil.
Offenbacher visited the Penn campus today as part of an ongoing college tour showcasing her 2009 documentary on Syrian culture. Around 20 students and other viewers attended the movie screening held at Fisher-Bennett Hall.
The screening was followed by a question-and-answer session and a discussion of the issues raised by the film.
Offenbacher said the “moral decadence” of the media climate toward Syria motivated her to create this film. Her goal is to challenge stereotypes about the cultural and religious environment within Syria.
“Syria is such a black hole in the United States,” Offenbacher said, referring to the lack of accurate information and knowledge about life in Syria.
Offenbacher began filming for the documentary in 2004. The film consists of footage from various cities including Damascus, Palmyra, Hama and close interviews with several Christian and Muslim Syrians. In doing so, Offenbacher’s film provides a realistic view of Syria, which the film mentions has the second-lowest crime rate in the world.
The film covers various aspects of Syrian culture including dance, fashion, religion and arts. Although she included footage of some government officials, Offenbacher chose to avoid politics.
The film was well-received by students and audience members.
“Syria seems a lot more European than I expected,” College freshman Elliott Brooks said. “I like that she focused so much on the culture of students.”
After the screening, some students stayed behind to ask Offenbacher individual questions and discuss her experiences abroad. Offenbacher said she hopes the documentary will inform audiences of all backgrounds about the Syrian reality. Specifically, she hopes the military will use the film for cultural sensitivity training.
For those who missed the screening, Tea on the Axis of Evil will be available at Fisher-Bennett hall.
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