Last night, I went down to the Depot in Lewes as they hosted a screening of ‘Freedom Fields’ with a Q&A session featuring some of the team from Lewes FC Women.
From the official website: Filmed over five years, FREEDOM FIELDS follows three women and their football team in post-revolution Libya, as the country descends into civil war and the utopian hopes of the Arab Spring begin to fade. Through the eyes of these accidental activists, we see the reality of a country in transition, where the personal stories of love and aspirations collide with History. An intimate film about hope, struggle and sacrifice in a land where dreams seem a luxury. A love letter to sisterhood and the power of team. Director Naziha Arebi is a Libyan/British artist and filmmaker who returned to Libya during the revolution to work and explore her father’s homeland.
The documentary brings an unabashed view from a group who are facing so many obstacles to play football and, ultimately, represent their country. Akin to players in this country and many others, they just wanted to be taken seriously from a society governed and dominated by their patriarchy.
There’s limited showings of the film in the UK. Find your local screening here.
Karen Dobres from Lewes FC Women & Equality FC introduced the screening and chaired the Q&A after it.
New Lewes FCW General Manager Maggie Murphy and players Shannon Maloney & Katie Rood talked about what challenges they’ve encountered during their time in the game and other themes echoed from the documentary before inviting some questions from the crowd.
If you’re not familiar with them, Lewes FC are spearheading the equality message for club football in the UK. Check them out here for more information on how you can get involved.