Synopse

This European-African co-production tells of a young woman fighting for her right to self-determination – against traditional and religious resistance. 15-year old Maria lives with her mother Amina in a suburb of N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. Because Amina was pregnant out of wedlock, her family threw her out. When her daughter is raped and becomes pregnant, there’s only one way to go for Maria -- she does not want the child. But abortion is not only illegal in Chad, it’s also a moral taboo in this religiously strict society. Together, the two women stand up to the pressure, even though their struggle appears hopeless.

Kindly supported by AGENTUR REGINE SCHMITZ

Regie

MAHAMAT-SALEH HAROUN (*1961) lives and works as a film-maker in Chad. His 1999 film Bye Bye Africa was the first full-length feature ever made in the central African country. Lingui ran in competition at this year’s Cannes film festival.

Info