Yasmin

A young Palestinian woman wanders around a cemetery, looking for her sister's grave. She is deeply moved. It is a recurring sequence in the film YASMINE. These graveyard scenes are alternated with short interviews with various people about man-woman relationships. Palestinian society seems to be greatly influenced by the West, but most women still lead slighted and retired lives. They are expected to unconditionally obey their fathers, brothers and husbands. For fear of gossip or social disdain most women silently adapt themselves to these expectations. When a couple expecting their first baby is asked which gender they hope the baby will have, the man betrays himself, despite all good intentions: "A son, of course". The whole society is pervaded with that double morality. Young men have sufficient freedom to experiment with sex, but if a girl would do the same she can at least expect a severe beating by her male relatives. In the worst case she may fear for her life, for according to Arab customs it is permitted to kill girls who run away from home or who otherwise squander the family reputation. Gradually it becomes clear what Yasmine's role is in the death of her sister Amal: she is at least accessory to it. Filmmaker Nizar Hassan thinks, however, that a society that tolerates discrimination against and intimidation of women is also to be blamed.