Rafea: Solar Mama

Rafea: Solar Mama
Directed by
Produced byMette Heide
CinematographyMona Eldaief
Edited by
  • Jean Tsien
  • Jenny Golden
Music byJonas Colstrup
Production
companies
Distributed byPBS
Release dates
  • September 10, 2012 (2012-09-10) (TIFF)
  • November 5, 2012 (2012-11-05) (United States)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Arabic

Rafea: Solar Mama is a 2012 American documentary film, directed by Jehane Noujaim and Mona Eldaief. It follows Rafea, an illiterate Jordanian Bedouin as she follows her aspirations of lighting up her village by harnessing the power of solar energy by enrolling in the Barefoot College solar program in India.

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2012. It was released on November 5, 2012, by PBS, as part of the Why Poverty? project.

Synopsis

The documentary depicts the trials and tribulations faced by Rafea, an illiterate Jordanian Bedouin as she follows her aspirations of lighting up her village by harnessing the power of solar energy by enrolling in the Barefoot College solar program in India. The story takes the viewer through Rafea's and her neighbour's physical and emotional journey before she triumphs.[1][2]

Following the release of the film, Eldaief stated Rafea and her aunt installed 80 solar panels in one week and Rafea's determination remains unshaken in spite of personal and financial burdens.[3]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2012.[4] It was released on November 5, 2012, by PBS.[5][6] The film went onto screen at DOC NYC on November 12, 2012, where the film won the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award,[7][8][9] The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam on November 19, 2012, where the film won the Oxfam Novib audience award.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ "TV review: Solar Mamas; Homeland". The Guardian.
  2. ^ "Filmmakers".
  3. ^ "Amid Setbacks, The Solar Mamas Are Undeterred". PBS.
  4. ^ "Rafea: Solar Mama" (PDF). Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Torgovnick May, Kate (November 1, 2012). "Visit the Barefoot College in a new film from TED Prize winner Jehane Noujaim". Ted. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Solar Mamas". IVTS. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "RAFEA: A SOLAR ENGINEER BLOSSOMS IN THE DESERT". DOC NYC. November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Rafea: Solar Mama". DOC NYC. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Hanna, Beth (November 16, 2012). "DOC NYC Fest Announces Audience and Jury Awards; Winners Include 'Informant' & 'Rafea: Solar Mama". IndieWire. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  10. ^ "Rafea: Solar Mama".
  11. ^ "Rafea: Solar Mama". International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "IDFA Special 19-20 November 2012". International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Retrieved November 26, 2020.


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