Mama Colonel 2017
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Kiripi Katembo Siku and Christian LeLong
Directed by Dieudo Hamadi
DVD, color, 72 min., Lingala and French with English subtitles
High School - General Adult
Africa, Women, Law
Date Entered: 09/07/2018
Reviewed by Barb Kundanis, Longmont Public Library, Longmont, COIn an observational style, Mama Colonel follows Colonel Honorine Manyole as she heads a special Congolese police group that protects children and advocates for women against sexual violence. The film begins with her leaving Bukavu and going to a new post in Kisangani.
In Kisangani, she works with rape victims of the Six-Day War (between Rwanda and Uganda, in 2000) and children who, in one case, are accused of witchcraft and kept imprisoned by a "prophetess."
This is an important film that goes beyond news stories to see victims of war and understand their experience. Manyole encourages community support as many victims are impoverished. She brings hope to those who think they are forgotten.
Awards
- Jury Prize, 2017 Berlinale Film Festival