Rough Aunties Director: Kim Longinotto, South Africa, 2008, 103 minutes
Friday May 29 | 6:30PM | Vancity Theatre
Fearless, feisty, and resolute. The ‘Rough Aunties’ are a remarkable
group of women unwavering in their stand to protect and care for
the abused, neglected, and forgotten children of Durban, South
Africa. This latest documentary by celebrated director Kim Longinotto
(Sisters in Law, Divorce Iranian Style) follows the outspoken,
multiracial cadre of Thuli, Mildred, Sdudla, Eureka, and Jackie.
They wage a daily battle to help the most vulnerable of their
communities through their organization, Bobbi Bear.
Jackie, a survivor of abuse, is a white African who grew up in
poverty. While working as an AIDS activist, she learned that young
children were contracting HIV through rape. Infuriated, she fought
to change South African laws that prevented the reporting of rape
as a crime. Jackie then founded Bobbi Bear not only to educate
women and children about abuse, but also to intervene in the community
to protect children.
Thuli, Sdudla, Mildred, and Eureka were all drawn to Jackie and
Bobbi Bear out of their desire to make change. Some had experienced
abuse; all had experienced hardship and poverty. The women are
now community workers, child safety officers, and educators. Rough
Aunties follows them at home, at work, and in the community,
bearing witness to their incredible skill, sensitivity, and tenacity.
They demonstrate not only that they are not victims, but that
they are role models for us all.
The women share a passion and commitment to make change for the
next generation and when we witness them confronting an abuser
at home, anything seems possible. Despite the harsh realities
of the women’s work, the portraits that emerge on screen are filled
with grace, wisdom, friendship, and a real sense of humour. Neither
politics nor racial divisions stand a chance against the united
force of the ‘rough aunties.’
Winner, Jury Prize in Documentary, Sundance World Cinema
Winner, Best Feature, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Director’s Biography
Internationally acclaimed director Kim Longinotto is one of the
preeminent documentary filmmakers working today, renowned for
creating extraordinary human portraits and tackling controversial
topics with sensitivity and compassion. Longinotto’s films
have won international acclaim and dozens of premiere awards at
festivals worldwide. Highlights include the Amnesty International
DOEN Award at IDFA and Best Doc UK Spotlight at Hot Docs for The
Day I Will Never Forget; the Grand Prize for Best Documentary
San Francisco International Film Festival and Silver Hugo Award
at the Chicago International Film Festival for Divorce Iranian
Style; Best Documentary at Films de Femmes, Creteil for Dream
Girls; and Outstanding Documentary at the SF Gay and Lesbian
Film Festival for Shinjuku Boys.
