In the little town of Kumba, Cameroon, there had been no convictions in spousal abuse trials for 17 years. Thanks to tough-minded state prosecutor Vera Ngassa and court president Beatrice Ntuba, however, things are starting to change. They are determined to help women in their Muslim village find the courage to fight difficult cases, despite pressures from family and their community to remain silent. Moreover, these two feisty and progressive officials challenge prevailing attitudes about the status of women and children village-wide. Winner of the Prix Art et Essai at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. 2005, Cameroon/UK, color, 35mm, in Pidgin English/ Hausa/English with English subtitles, 104 minutes.
Kim Longinotto is one of the preeminent documentary filmmakers working today, renowned for creating extraordinary human portraits and tackling controversial topics with sensitivity and compassion. Her films, which have won international acclaim and dozens of premier awards at festivals worldwide, include Shinyuku Boys (1995), Gaea Girls (2000), Runaway (2001), and The Day I Will Never Forget (2002).
Florence Ayisi teaches practice-based research at the International Film School Wales, University of Wales, Newport. She also directed the documentary Reflections (2003) and the short film My Mother: Isange (2005).
Post-screening discussion led by Nyango Melissa Naubangi, Executive Director, Minnesota African Women’s Association www.mawanet.org