SYNOPSIS

The title of this film is a direct allusion to what taboo - in Arab countries - the hair of the women - who should be hidden - while all the musicians who will participate in the film refuse to wear the veil. So, this title is an allusion to the erotic of the hair. This film is, in fact, a manifesto, as it indeed offers to present the current history of five Arab rebel women, singers, musicians and composers, from Maghreb and Mashreq (Maroco, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Palestinia). In contradiction with the assumed context of the current distrust about these cultures, the film wants to show the assertion force of these women who struggle with determination to impose their talent, their art, their social commitment and their femininity without veil.

PROGRAM NOTE

 If I Keep You in My Hair is a story about five singers,
 musicians, and composers who refuse to wear the veil
 and attempt to challenge social taboo. The film\'s title
 If I Keep You in My Hair refers to the Muslim women\'s
 hair that must be covered by a scarf or veil. The film
 title also seems to point to the Muslim society, religion,
 and family that demand these women to hide away
 their talents, and femininity. The women of in this film
 have all been challenging and struggling in society
 in order to express and fulfill their musical talents. A
 woman that became a singer after having married at
 14 but immediately divorcing afterwards, a musician
 who challenged the society that forbids female
 musicians by forming a band consisting of women,
 and many others –all of their lives have been a series
 of courage and determination. These women\'s
 unbelievable tough-mindedness and sense of purpose
 for art completely shatter the prejudice towards the
 stereotypical and superficial \'victimized\' image of the
 Arab women. The film attempts to show the audience
 that the Arab world does not simply consist of a single
 identity, but rather has a diversity of cultures and
 political beliefs. These artists are concerned about the
 social atmosphere and politics of the place they live
 and express themselves, and make efforts to address
 these concerns and change their environment. They
 must work to change it, because their country has
 a huge influence on their art. Furthermore, the film
 underscores the pioneering accomplishments of
 Egyptian musician Oum KALTHOUM, who had a big
 impact on contemporary Arabic music, in order to
 demonstrate that the history of Arabic women\'s music
 has been continued persistently since a long time
 ago. [CHO HyeYoung]