Film Club Review
Every Monday, 12 young film lovers head to our cinema under the stars at Lotterywest Films to take in the best international cinema has to offer. As aspiring cinephiles, we've asked them for their thoughts on the flicks.
Read Apu Karajagi's review of this week's film Lingui, The Sacred Bonds.
A mother desperately trying to protect her daughter
Lingui, The Sacred Bonds is a poignant film about the power of women in a society dominated by the patriarchy. Set in the gritty streets of the outskirts of N'Djamena, the capital city of Chad, we see Amina (played by Achouackh Abakar Souleymane), a single mother of 15-year-old Maria (Rihane Khalil Alio), whose main source of income is making and selling stove tops from tire wire and scrap metal. When Amina learns that her young daughter is kicked out of school because she is pregnant, she desperately tries to protect her daughter’s future from devolving into her own.
The film touches on deeply taboo topics such as, abortion, rape, female circumcision, religion, and patriarchy. The film showcases the dilemma of women in a societal context where abortions are prohibited, and single mothers are ostracized.
Lingui (meaning Sacred Bonds in Chadian) highlights the interconnectedness of women and how their support for one another mitigates the impact that a deeply prejudiced society has on its victims: women!
There are scenes that are hard to watch, especially in the emotional sense, with cleverly used moments of weighted silence, heightening the audience’s focus on the emotional depiction of Achouackh’s powerful performance.
Lingering close-ups of the characters are purposefully drawn out to connect you to the characters, increasing the palpability of scenes.
The relatively slow pace of the film was intentionally used to provide the depth of the experiences of the characters, adding tension and urgency while also acknowledging the many obstacles Amina and Maria face as women.
The immersive nature of how the film is shot, on location, with a golden hue used to depict the dusty, dry streets of N’Djamena, hooks you right into the world of Amina and Maria.
An important story about bravery and the power of women, masterfully written and directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun. This film will fittingly be screened towards the end of the 16 days in WA – Stop Violence Against Women campaign. You do not want to miss this film.
Screening at Lotterywest Films
Screening at Lotterywest Films from 6 – 12 Dec.
Grab your tickets now!