Email Print

Film & BooksIssue: Sagittarius 07

Sisters in Law

sistersinlaw_sm_200Courtesy of Women Make MoviesDon't miss the national broadcast premiere of Sisters in Law, a captivating and often humorous documentary film about two brave women dispensing justice in Cameroon. Sisters in Law will air on the Emmy-Award winning PBS series, Independent Lens, November 27 at 10 pm on most PBS stations.

Winner of the Prix Art et Essai at the Cannes Film Festival, and screened at more than 120 festivals worldwide, Sisters in Law documents the bold work of two women in one small courthouse in Kumba, Cameroon. Tough-minded state prosecutor, Vera Ngassa, and court president, Beatrice Ntuba, are working to help women in their town find the courage to fight the often appalling cases of abuse despite pressures from family and their community to remain silent. With fierce compassion, they distribute wisdom, wisecracks, and justice in fair-measure—handing down stiff sentences to those convicted. Nathan Lee writes in his review published in The New York Times, "Patriarchal arrogance is knocked clean off their hapless mugs as the world's worst alibis crumble before the sisterly smackdown."

Co-directed by Kim Longinotto and Florence Ayisi, Sisters in Law presents a strong and positive view of African women and captures the emerging spirit of courage, hope, and the possibility of change. dots

 

by Ann JandaSagittarius

Film & Books Archives (total entries: 36)

Aquarius 10

Burma Chronicles

burmachroniclessm_139

Aries 08

Three Cups of Tea

gregmortenson200_200

Cancer 10

A Few Good Reads

Now that school is out and summer is here, I cannot wait to relax in the sunshine and enjoy a few good reads. Here is my summer list:

Sagittarius 09

Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants

This witty, accessible, and concise book will raise the mindfulness of the most stressed out person in mere seconds.

Virgo 09 - The Climate Change Issue

Julie & Julia

Meryl Streep is absolutely mesmerizing in Nora Ephron’s film, Julie & Julia. I was blissfully swept away by her portrayal of Julia Child and the story of her supportive and adoring husband, Paul Child, played by Stanley Tucci.

Taurus 09 - The Garden Issue

Edible Green Mountains

My new favorite food magazine is Edible Green Mountains. Filled with beautiful images and interesting articles about local Vermont growers, retailers, chefs, and food artisans, Edible Green Mountains is a feast for the eyes with plenty of food for thought!

Pisces 2009 - The Movie Issue

Frozen River

A struggling, single mother of two has only one wish for Christmas – to move her family out of a broken-down trailer and into a new double-wide.

Aquarius 09 - The Change Issue

WALL-E

Adorable, funny, and eerily post-apocalyptic, WALL-E is, in short, brilliant, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you must rent this fabulous film made by the Pixar division of Disney.

Capricorn 08 - The Career Issue

Dispatches from the Edge

Though Anderson Cooper has reported on many natural and political disasters across the globe, his response to Hurricane Katrina is what made him famous.

Sagittarius 08 & Honest Self Expression

Rachel Getting Married

Like real life-families who have a member struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, the focus of “Rachel Getting Married” isn’t on Rachel, even though it should be. It is on her narcissistic sister, Kym, who is out of rehab for the weekend to attend Rachel’s wedding.