Sisters in Law (film)
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Kim Longinotto
Beatrice Ntuba
| Sisters in Law: Stories from a Cameroon Court | |
|---|---|
 State prosecutor Vera Ngassa, left, and Court President Beatrice Ntuba. | |
| Directed by | Florence Ayisi Kim Longinotto |
| Produced by | Kim Longinotto |
| Starring | Vera Ngassa Beatrice Ntuba |
| Edited by | Oliver Huddleston |
| Music by | D'Gary |
| Distributed by | Women Make Movies |
Release date |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Language | Cameroonian Pidgin English |
Sisters in Law is a 2005 Cameroonian documentary film by Florence Ayisi and Kim Longinotto, portraying aspects of women's lives and work within the judicial system in western Cameroon. Following four separate cases, the film focuses on state prosecutor Vera Ngassa and judge Beatrice Ntuba as they attempt to bring justice for victims of gender violence.
The film centres around four cases in Cameroon involving violence against women. Complainants include Manka, a six-year-old girl who run aways from her abusive aunt's care; Sonita, a 10-year-old girl who accuses her neighbour of rape; and Amina, a Muslim woman who is trying to divorce her husband due to domestic abuse. Their cases are processed and heard by Vera Ngassa, a state prosecutor, and Beatrice Ntuba, a court judge. Manka's aunt pleads guilty and is sentenced to a custodial prison sentence; Sonita's rapist pleads not guilty, but is found guilty by the court; and Amina's husband is fined, with a separate sharia court granting her request for a divorce.[1]
Production
Ayisi and Longinotto were supported by Women Make Movies, who also distributed the film. Ayisi and Longinotto were inspired by Kumba Town in West Cameroon, where Ayisi grew up, and originally envisioned making a film about the local police force, before deciding to follow the judicial system.[2] The film features the case of Amina, which became the first case in Cameroon criminal history where a man was successfully convicted of abusing his wife.
Release
The film was screened at multiple film festivals throughout 2005, including the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival.[3] In the US, it aired on the PBS series Independent Lens.
