Critical Debates and Filmmakers’ Theories

1)This documentary is considered observational, meaning they stray from the use of narration and infographics, and instead act as a ‘fly on the wall’.

Through the use of observational documentary, Longinotto aims to build a relationship between the viewer and the subjects; to further immerse the spectator in the story to, as an end result, evoke an emotional response on the issue being exposed.

2)Cinema Verite, or ‘truth cinema’ is a style of documentary filmmaking that combines improvisation with the use of a camera to reveal a truth or highlight subjects hidden behind reality.

Sister in Law utilises these techniques to represent the truth as objectively as possible, freeing the viewer from deceptions in how those aspects of life were formerly presented to them. An example of the concept of ‘truth cinema’ being used in the film is during the court scenes. Instead of having direct interviews with the accused or the victims, or even a reporter addressing what happened in the courtroom, we are instead placed ‘inside’ the scene. We feel the same suspense that they do and as a result feel completely immersed in the situation.

Additionally, the scene in which Manka is brought into the course house depicting her horrific abuse; the spectator sees the whole story; start to finish; from when she was brought in, to where the abuser is sent to be arrested, the confrontation with the abuser, and finally the prosecution of the abuser. This establishes a close relationship between the viewer and the subjects and evokes the spectator to root for Manka. If this scene was done differently, with the use of narration for example, the catharsis wouldn’t be as effective, and this case would feel like one of many.

3)Would Sisters in Law construct a different narrative or give different perspectives of women’s lives, If the directors were men?

I feel as though the film would have a different reaction if the directors were men, although I feel as though men could still deliver in exposing the issues of child abuse and the mistreatment of women, the fact that the directors are women gives the audience a sense of women ‘taking back their liberty’ and a sense of female solidarity amongst a culture that is often male orientated.

The female perspective lends itself perfectly in aiding the narrative of the film, specifically in the scene where Vera Ngassa (prosecutor) is defending the victimised woman in court, single handily fighting against the very traditional views of the accused lawyer. The fact that she is a women gives the audience a sense of just how stunted the men are in feminist views, and how if she wasn’t there the men would come together and dismiss the abuse she went through.

If truth is important to documentary filmmaking, what truths are revealed in Sisters in Law?

Sisters in Law is an observational documentary, focusing on exposing the torment and mistreatment some women experience in Cameroon, Central Africa. The film manages to expose men’s fixed view on women as a result of tradition, how they are expected to be subservient to their husbands. One issue that Sisters in Law cover, is that of the belief that once women are married, their husbands have free rein over their body and freedom, meaning they are condoned to rape and abuse their wife whenever they please, additional to the belief that wives must ask for permission before leaving the house.

Sisters in Law also expose the controversy of African tradition; where some young girls and sent to be married right after primary school, they aren’t provided education or the concept of individuality, but are taught to be an extension of their husband.

1. Sisters in law would be classified as an observational documentary. this would be due to the lack of personal interviews and input from the directors of the documentary. instead giving the interview first hand original footage from cases such as the court trials we see.

I think the directors chose this documentary style as it give the audience the first hand footage from the trials. the fact that the footage is authentic having not been messed with in post production give the audience a real sense of verisimilitude and truthfulness

2. Cinema verite would be defined as shooting footage with fairly simple equipment and using hardly any effects in post other then simple cuts of footage. This is mostly used in observational documentaries to increase the verisimilitude of the story being shown. An example of cinema verite in the film would be found in the court case with Manka. due to the fact there is no script people are shouting over each other and the camera does a lot of whip pans increasing the versimilitude.

3. would sisters in law have a different narrative if the directors were men?

In my opinion the narrative of the film would not change if the directors were men. This is because they still highlight the problems of Cameroonian beliefs and how women and children are treated there. The gender of the director does not change the narrative that He or she is trying to present and the awareness they are trying to show other people worldwide.

If truths are important to documentary filmmaking which truths are revealed in sisters in law?

sisters in law reveals the truth behind Cameroonian culture in which men believe that when they are married to a woman the woman then become the mans property. the documentary also reveals how children are treated by there parents and others in which they are beaten and abused if they misbehave.

• I feel as if the primary mode used in this documentary to tell the story and explain why the directors chose to present it in that way is the expository mode, as the film is constructed to inform and persuade the audience, convincing them to understand the issues with justice in South West Cameroon. Yet I also feel like the film is an observational mode, as it records the realistic happenings of the Adultery, Rape and Abuse cases.

• ‘The style of this documentary is influenced by the Cinema Verite movement’

The Cinema Verite movement is the French film movement of the 1960s that showed people in everyday situations with authentic dialogue and naturalness of action. This film definitely captured authentic conversations and situations so it is obvious that it is influenced heavily by this movement. This can be shown by the camera footage of the courthouses and the conversations held in the room that the victims speak to the woman.

• Would Sisters in Law construct a different narrative or give different perspectives of women’s lives, if the directors were men?

I feel like if the film was directed by only males, it would lose some of the sympathy placed on the women in the film, and so would lose the realism sense because the Sisters focus on female cases, and having a man direct those scenes would affect how the women are portrayed.

• If truth is important to documentary filmmaking, what truths are revealed in Sisters in Law?

The film reveals cases within the community of things like rape and abuse so it’s very hard hitting truths that the audience feel sympathy for the victims in the scene. I think the truths are important to this film as it gives a sense of verisimilitude for the story. However it is difficult to reveal the complete truth, having a visible camera is always going to change the subjects way of how they act, despite the situations being true.

1) The primary mode of the documentary is observational. I believe the directors chose this style deliberately as the lack of mediation adds to the immersion and makes the impact on the viewer more powerful, in turn heightening the verisimilitude.

2)The cinema verite movement is a 1960’s idea that showed people in everyday situations with authentic dialogue and naturalness of action. One way the documentary makes use of this is by seeing the various reactions of Manka’s family to her mistreatment. This is effective as it adds to the impact of the scene. Another way it makes use of the style is by showing the court room reactions and dialogue. Due to it not following a script, many people are shouting over each other to make their point, it can lead to chaos within the court room which increases tension with the viewer.

3)Observational Cinema can empower women as it represents their struggle by making an example of real events. The documentary focuses on showing the mistreatment of women and this doccumentary shows the harsh reality of the situation that some face. In turn, the doccumentary gives light to the situation and directly presents the justice system and how it protects them.

I believe that sisters in law wouldn’t have a different prospective if it’s directors were men. I believe this as the observational mode still showcases the crime happening against women and hence I believe if it were directed by a man it wouldn’t make a difference. It could be argued that the message wouldn’t be as powerful as it is not coming from a Women which would make it seem as if the directors were talking about a struggle they were not facing. yet, I still believe that the question is not if its a man directing it, instead I believe it is the quality of the doccumentary and how well it sheds light on the situation that women are facing.

1. In sisters in law, an observational form of documentary mode is used. This is done to keep the sense of verisimilitude seeing the real peoples real lives with little editing and intervention helping to connect the audience without it feeling fake.
2. Cinema verite was a movement from France in the 1960s about using more natural unedited shots to capture the very day life. This technique is used in sister in law having the camera roll during real interactions unscripted showing the true events of Cameroon.
3. a.)The style of cinema verite helps to empower women within the documentary sisters in law. As the footage is unedited and raw, the women are able to say what is on their mind and express themselves without a third party altering it in post production to fit an agenda.
4. b.) Many truths are shown within the sisters in law documentary regarding the mistreatment of women in Cameroon and how powerless they are against men as seen through legal system favouring men as seen with the lawyer who was actively mocking a women for speaking out against the abuse from her husband.