Sarah Macharia

In every society the stories repeat themselves: ‘Iraq: Women face increased violence in Kurdistan’,1 ‘“Honor killing” in Italy spurs quest for justice’,2 ‘UN: Brutality Against Women in Congo “Beyond Rape”’,3 ‘Problem of Domestic Violence in Europe’,4 ‘Stopping Sexual Abuse of Children’ [the girl child in Russia].5 Beginning a discussion on peace with accounts about ‘violence against women’ – as these practices are characteristically classified – may appear odd, however it is almost impossible to reflect on peace without evoking its opposite.

Jolyon Mitchell

Why is peacemaking such an apparent rarity in the world of film? From the first days of cinema, filmmakers have delighted in offering viewers moving images of conflict and violence. The torrential cascade of cinematic violence is hard to avoid: from boxing fights to violent train robberies, from fencing duals to dramatic executions, from shoot-outs to exploding helicopters. Whether creating cinematic comedies or tragedies, fantasies or histories, filmmakers have found violence an irresistible topic for their craft.

Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney

Clint Eastwood’s film Letters from Iwo Jima finds the humanity behind the brutality of war, thus honouring the past and opening hearts in the present, says the acclaimed author of Kamikaze Diaries.