Kumba, a small town in southwest Cameroon. Six-year-old Manka has fled her house an cruel aunt. Sonita courageously accuses her neighbor of rape. Amina decides to end her marriage with a brutal man by taking him to court. The film follows two women, the Counselor of State and the Presiding Judge, in their daily work: to bring aid to these women determined to put an end to their harsh lives.

SISTERS IN LAW is a totally fascinating, often hilarious look at the work of one small courthouse in Cameroon where two women determined to change a village are making progress that could change the world. The tough-minded state prosecutor Vera Ngassa and Court President Beatrice Ntuba are working to help women in their Muslim village find the courage to fight often-difficult cases of abuse, despite pressures from family and their community to remain silent. With fierce compassion, they dispense wisdom, wisecracks and justice in fair measure-handing down stiff sentences to those convicted. A cross between Judge Judy and The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, SISTERS IN LAW has audiences cheering when justice is served.

UK/Cameroon, 2005, 104 mins, English, Pidgin and Hausa with English subtitles

Directors: Florence Ayisi and Kim Longinotto

Keys words : Child Abuse/Incest, Africa, Criminal Justice, Law, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

PRIX / FESTIVALS / AWARDS / DISTINCTIONS / TELEVISIONS

2006 | ZIFF 2006 - 9th Zimbabwe International Film Festival | HARARE, Zimbabwe | www.ziff.co.zw |
* Selection (Documentaries)

2005 British Independent Film Awards
* Best British Documentary

2005 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
* Audience Award

2005 Cannes International Film Festival
* C.I.C.A.E. Award

2005 Hawaii International Film Festival
* Best Documentary

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SUOMEKSI / FINLANDAIS

Kumban kylässä Kamerunissa kukaan ei ole 17 vuoteen saanut tuomiota perheväkivallasta. Kaksi lujatahtoista naista, valtion syyttäjä Vera Ngassa ja paikallisen oikeustalon presidentti Beatrice Ntuba, käyvät antaumuksella väkivaltaisten miesten ja hyväksikäytön kulttuurin kimppuun. Ankaran myötätunnon, viisauden ja terävän huumorin voimin he rohkaisevat nais- ja lapsiuhreja hakemaan oikeutta - huolimatta siitä, että perheet ja yhteisö painostavat uhreja pitämään rikokset salaisina. Pienen oikeustalon kiehtovaan arkeen pureutuva dokumentti on klassikko, joka saa katsojat hurraamaan, kun Vera ja Beatrice jakavat pahantekijöille pitkiä tuomioita. Dokumentin päähenkilöt tarjoavat unohtumattoman esimerkin siitä, että yksikin ihminen voi muuttaa maailmaa.

Kamerun/Iso-Britannia | 2005 | 104 min
Elokuva on tekstitetty englanniksi.

Ohjaaja: Florence Ayisi ja Kim Longinotto