THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET
England 2002 – Director: Kim Longinotto – Original language: kisuaheli – Subtitles: English – Length: 92 min.
This film takes you into different Kenyan communities and explores the tradition of circumcision and also love, marriage, families, rebellion and change.
We discover girls struggling with their culture and their loyalty to their parents. Will they be strong enough to break with tradition? And if they do, will they be accepted back into their communities, or will they become outcasts?
Fardhosa, a woman doctor, takes us into the Somali community, where she attempts to open peoples' minds to try safer and more humane medical practices. Simalo, a young Masai girl, goes home to confront her mother for having married her off to an old man against her will. And finally, sixteen young girls challenge their parents and take the painful decision to take them to court to stop them circumcising them. This has historic implications for their whole culture.
The film shows ancient traditions beginning to be questioned by a new generation that doesn't want to suffer as their mothers have done.
"I see the people in this film as pioneers. They are performing feats of great courage and their actions will have an incalculable effect. As Gladys says 'I don't want to have 15 children, I want an education. I want a bright future.'" Kim Longinotto
Writer: Kim Longinotto. Camera: Kim Longinotto. Sound: Mary Milton. Editing: Andrew Willsmore. Music: Charlie Winston. Production: Vixen Films. Producer: Kim Longinotto.
