War of Women Film 2022

Women of War

Women of War is a short documentary that sheds light on the struggles of women in Sudan during years of war, particularly in the Blue Nile region and other affected areas such as North Darfur and Kordofan. Through real testimonies, the film reveals the harsh experiences of women who faced displacement, loss, and violence—left with heavy responsibilities after the absence of their husbands and brothers, either killed in battle or consumed by ongoing fighting.

The film opens with Nahla Elbedry, writer and women’s rights activist, whose voice and words convey both grief and strength, guiding viewers into the heart of the experience. We then hear the stories of:

• Zahraa Ali: a young journalist and political activist who recounts her arrest, torture, and racial abuse at the hands of Sudanese security forces.
• Mama Rachel: an illiterate woman displaced multiple times, who lost her brother and faced threats, yet managed to establish initiatives for education and economic empowerment, supporting women, girls, and children.
• Salwa Abdullah: a homemaker who bore the burden of supporting her family after the death of her brother, the household’s sole provider.
• Jawaher Komendan: who witnessed her neighbor give birth under heavy gunfire, capturing a moment where life and death collided.
• Hawa Ismail: who recounts giving birth while fleeing the conflict, enduring days of walking in the rain and under fire in search of survival.

Interwoven with B-Roll footage filmed across various Sudanese states, including liberated areas, the documentary shows that these stories are not confined to one region but represent the broader suffering of women across Sudan. The blend of evocative music and raw imagery reflects the duality of pain and hope, fragility and resilience, in a visually and emotionally powerful narrative.

At its core, Women of War is an honest human testimony about women in conflict zones—portraying their endurance and resistance despite everything the war has taken from them—while underlining the urgent need for peace and stability.

Directed by Algaddal Hassn