Sisters in Law
DIR Kim Longinotto & Florence Ayisi | UK | 2005 | 108 min.
In English and Pidgin with Subtitles.
SHOWTIMES:
Thur, Sept 29, 3:00pm, PCP
Fri, Oct 7, 6:00pm, GR5
Sun, Oct 9, 12:30pm, PCP
Reviewed by Gloria Wong
The latest from award-winning documentarian Kim Longinotto (Divorce Iranian Style) adds to the director’s body of work telling fascinating stories of women around the world. Sisters in Law focuses on the hard-working lawyers and judges of a women’s legal aid organization in Cameroon. Mixing – and sometimes combating – traditional village conflict resolution with their contemporary legal system, these extraordinary women earn meaningful victories for the women and children of their community – like a young Muslim woman’s groundbreaking, successful bid for a divorce on the basis of abuse.
Shot in Longinotto’s typical pure verite style, Sisters in Law is the most upliftingly true-to-life story about African women I’ve seen on film. With three-dimensional characters and compelling story arcs, it’s a true highlight of this year’s festival.