Khalifah

Nurman Hakim : 2011

Khalifah is twenty-three and works at a hair salon in Jakarta. She agrees to an arranged marriage to a successful businessman, Rasyid, since the marriage is beneficial for the financial situation of her family. She soon realises, however, that her husband is strongly religious and expects her to wear the niqāb in public which draws much attention and negative reaction. She cannot work with the niqāb on and cannot be seen by other men with it off. Sometimes she is insulted on the street by passers-by and once is even accused of being a terrorist. However, the veil also has a positive effect and Khalifah enjoys the freedom from the stares of men. Even the teenage boys on the street corner who always whistled after her ignore her now. But when her husband is killed and the police ask her to identify his body, she meets Rasyid's other wife and child, of whom she had no knowledge. With her husband dead and his double life revealed, leaving her alone and pregnant, Khalifah tries to find her own standing towards the veil. A tale of one woman's strength in facing discrimination, love and betrayal.