LINGUI (THE SACRED BONDS) directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haeroun

Country: Chad | Program: Official Competition

Cast: Achouackh Abakar Souleymane - Amina | Rihane Khalil Alio - Maria

One of two African films which competed for this year’s Palme d’Or, award-winning Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s latest feature Lingui explores the bond between a stoic and hardworking mother, Amina (Achouackh Abakar Souleymane), and her pregnant teenage daughter, Maria (Rihane Khalil Alio) in this deeply affecting drama.

Alio’s teenage character Maria is troubled from the outset, triggering Amina’s concern which leads to the discovery of her daughter’s pregnancy. Amina’s alarm at the prospect of her own history repeating itself—she also gave birth outside of marriage when she was young—is compounded by Maria’s desire to terminate her pregnancy, in a culture where abortion is strictly prohibited not only by religion but also by law. Their ensuing quest to secure the abortion procedure Maria seeks paints an eloquent portrait of the bonds that prevail between women, accentuated by a strong extended supporting cast of female characters who assist with various elements of their struggle against a society still formed along strongly patriarchal and religious lines.

In an interview elsewhere, director Haroun said that “Lingui” is a word that “implies solidarity, mutual aid and keeping each other afloat.” An unencumbered script creates room for emotive performances from female leads Souleymane and Alio, and in spite of the host of hardships and obstacles their characters encounter throughout, the most compelling element of this intimately lensed film is the prevailing sense of perseverance: the sacred, unshakeable bond that sustains Amina and Maria’s journey, gradually revealing their instinctive capacity to protect both themselves and one another.

Following premiering in Cannes to critical acclaim, Lingui will be released in the UK by streamer and theatrical distributor MUBI. The UK release date is yet to be announced.
LINGUI Im. Credit - Pili Films, Mathieu Giombini