Sisters in Law (Kim Longinotto, 2005) is an observational documentary film which gives us an insight into the criminal judicial system of Cameroon. We follow the day-to-day lives of Vera Ngassa (the state prosecutor) and Beatrice Ntuba (the court president) throughout the film. The two fight against injustice within the village of Kumba, placing particular emphasis on domestic abuse, child abuse and violence against women throughout the film.
The film centres around four cases, each being linked by the theme of discriminatory violence against women. The case that has the most time dedicated to it involves Manka, a child who was beaten with a cane by her aunt. By the end of the film, she is charged with child abuse at the hands of Vera Ngassa. Despite this, women are also presented in a strong and rigorous light due to the two aforementioned lawyers, Vera and Beatrice exhibiting their forceful presence by distributing their ethical judgement towards the tyrannical citizens present throughout the country.
The film is unanimously agreed upon to be categorised under the observational mode of documentary. This is due to the fact that Kim Longinotto has zero direct involvement on the events portrayed throughout the film and merely wishes to capture an entirely accurate and uninterrupted portrayal of the Kumba judicial system. The only involvement Longinotto has on the events of the film are through her use of occasional subject title cards, as well as subtitles of the Pidgin English spoken by the subjects. The camera almost appears to be invisible, as the subjects of the documentary never once acknowledge the camera’s presence. This ‘fly on the wall’ style of filmmaking means that the film can easily be placed under the observational mode. This particular mode of documentary allows the viewer to form their own opinion on the events that unfold throughout the film without the hindrance of a coercive documentarian, such as Michael Moore.
Personally, I enjoyed Sisters in Law to a considerable degree. Through Longinotto’s apt use of the observational mode of documentary, I often forgot that these events were filmed in the presence of a documentary crew. Although I found some cases more engaging than others, Longinotto offers an enlightening insight into the judicial system of Cameroon and spreads awareness of the discrimination of women throughout the country.
Overall, I would rate Sisters in Law ★★★½.
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