The wheels seem to be churning when we see women and men on screen and in most metropolitan cities making their choices for a life partner. Yet the reality is far murkier, especially for women in forced arranged marriages. Nadia’s Journey looks at the life of its Algerian-Canadian protagonist Nadia Zouaoui, who was a victim and a survivor of this reality.

Reality matters
Nadia, an Algerian by birth, was forced into an arranged marriage at age 18 by her parents. Zouaoui, after going through 11 years of a grueling experience, turned director along with Carmen Garcia to tell numerous stories like hers. “The film is about how the patriarchal system is ingrained in women” says Zouaoui, continuing, “I suffered a lot when I was married after my college to a person who resided in Canada. My father sensing that I was different felt that maybe I would be better in a place like that.” However, Zouaoui’s compulsion left her with a problematic reality. “He wanted to bring a virgin girl and have the atmosphere of an Algerian village at home. But outside, for himself, he wanted to live the Canadian life,” she tells us over the phone lines.