Sisters in Law (Kim Longinotto, 2005)
What is the film about? Who are the main participants and what happens to them?
Sisters in Law is a 2005 documentary that follows legal prosecutors Vera Ngassa and Beatrice Ntuba. The film begins with a brief look at rural Cameroon and Kumba Town, and then focuses in on a small legal office where everyone is beginning their day. Vera enters the office and the first case ensues- a mother accusing her father and husband of kidnapping her child. It is quickly revealed the parents were never legally married, and Ngassa scolds the father and removes his custody. The next case is ten year old Sonita who was raped by her neighbour, which was taken to court and tried by Ntuba. Her rapist pleaded not guilty but the court overruled this and sentenced him to seven years hard labour and deportation.
The two cases than run through the length of the documentary are for the abused six year old Manka against her aunt, and Amina who against Sharia Law is trying to divorce her abusive husband. Manka is found by a preacher and taken to Vera, who is shown the scars allover her body inflicted by Manka’s aunt and cousin. Both are brought in to Ngassa and cry; at first denying all abuse but eventually admitting it for “justified” reasons with her aunt confessing to beating her with a meal clothes hanger. In court, Beatrice sentences Manka’s aunt who pleads guilty and is sent to prison.
Amina also ends up in court agains her husband, who abused her multiple times and refuses to let her leave him. he emptily accuses her of infidelity with no evidence and then after arguing with Beatrice goes back on his claim. Because of his actions he was given the option of a large fine or a year imprisonment, but Amina went further and was granted a divorce from an all male Sharia Court. She became the first woman in Cameroonian to successfully have her abusive husband convicted.
Who made the film? Does the film hold a significant place in film history?
The film was directed by Kim Longinotto and co-directed by Florence Ayisi. They were supported by the Women Make Movies organisation, which also funded Longinotto’s Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go. Sisters in Law was screened at Cannes and won the Prix Art et Essai in 2005 and also notably won a Peabody Award in 2007. This documentary is incredibly significant and it brought awareness to gender violence and gave credit to the powerful women empowering and educating the women of Cameroon.
How is the subject framed? Do the filmmakers use any interesting techniques to convey information to the audience? How is the film structured?
The film is structured chronologically with the longer two cases interweaving around the shorter two. Vera and Beatrice are clearly very respected based on the choice to show the receptionists in the office preparing the space for Vera’s arrival and the court shown standing up for Beatrice. Quite often zooms are used when focusing on the accused to gain an emotional response from the audience, and the camera doesn’t cut away when the prosecutors are talking to themselves, shaking their heads or other clear reactions; proving the documentary’s subjective nature.
To what extent is the film a notable example of the "mode" you have identified above?
This film is somewhat observational it feels like there is no input by the filmmaker on the series of events, which is made more natural by the fact it is the second time filming the documentary and so the subjects are more used to Kim and the limited camera crew. However, as mentioned before there are often clear decisions to highlight the abusers fake/emotionless reactions and the judges disappointed response; which if truly observational wouldn’t be focused on.
What was your personal reaction to the film? Which sequences were particularly effective or enjoyable? What do you think the filmmakers wanted to say?
I really enjoyed this film and the structure of it; at times feeling quite heavy to watch but made positive by the end result and the occasional cut to Vera playing with her children in the office. It was really interesting to see the respect the men in particular had for Beatrice in the court which could have easily turned to defensive sexism but never did, and the addition of the conversations with the women about their situations and how they would empower and educate their daughters to end the cycle.