Gender violence film ‘Deafening Silence’ premieres in Lagos

For decades, gender-based violence (GBV) has been a central issue in Nigeria, prompting immediate action and raising awareness across the country.

Joining the collective effort to raise awareness and address this issue, Nollywood screenwriter, director and producer, Emem Isong-Misodi, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN), released a film Deafening Silence on Wednesday at EbonyLife. Place, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The project is a joint initiative of the EU and the United Nations in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to raise awareness and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

The premiere, held on Wednesday, was attended by the likes of Oyinye Ndubuisi, Dupe Kachi, popularly called Ige, Sola Sobowale, Kate Henshaw, Desmond Eliot and Majid Michel, among others.

A representative sample of the cast and crew at the premiere.

Speaking at the premiere, the Head of Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ruben Alba Aguilera, said the ‘Deafening Silence’ project aims to reach many Nigerians to raise awareness about sexual violence. and gender.

He said: “What we want to achieve is basically to raise awareness and make sure we reach every corner of Nigeria to break the silence and open a debate on the effects of gender-based violence and try to bring about change.

He added: “It is about raising awareness, breaking the silence, ensuring that people are aware that violence exists in our society and that we all have to play a role in stopping it. That it is not right that we cannot simply accept that violence is used against our mothers, our sisters and our daughters and that we all have to fight and we all have to play a role. So, today’s film is part of that initiative.”

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Aguilera added that the team embarked on the project to raise awareness about gender-based violence and offer viable solutions for victims.

“We have also invested and worked to ensure that victims of gender violence also have access to basic services, psychosocial support and health services. We have established 41 sexual assault referral centers in 20 states in Nigeria. And these are centers where victims can access support, including legal aid, if they want to speak out and take their cases to court and have access to justice.”

A representative sample of the audience at the premiere of Deafening Silence

The deliberate suggestion of the oxymoron ‘Deafening Silence’ as the film’s title emphasizes the profound silence of victims of gender violence.

According to the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), every 3 in 10 women in Nigeria have been victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The silence has become mind-blowing and loud enough to generate attention and solutions.

The film will be released in theaters starting June 7 and will be followed by a short series that will delve into the narratives along with national television episodes.

The film portrays several people fighting against gender-based violence (GBV), struggling to express their experiences and accept professional help.

The film tells the story of different women and girls who suffer sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuse from men and women who should protect them, such as husbands, police officers and guardians.

Jane, who as a child watched her father sexually harass his 16-year-old maid who, out of frustration, committed suicide, comes to despise her parents.

Jane leaves her father’s house to live alone, as he has threatened to kick out her daughters. Her sister visits her to bring her shopping and while they are arguing they hear noises coming from the neighbor’s apartment. Then they rush to intervene. Just as Jane tries to get the girl away from her mother, Agnes, who tries to forcefully cut her hair, she falls to the ground and begins accusing Jane of killing her.

Jane faces legal consequences after pushing her neighbor, Agnes, to the ground during an intervention. The court found her guilty and sentenced her to six months of community service at COAGBA, an organization dedicated to combating gender abuse. While she works there, Jane has the opportunity to help victims in need.

Head of the Governance, Gender, Human Rights and Migration Section of the EU Delegation, Rubén Alba Aguilera. Enter COAGBA

Mrs. Nwoke, a victim, asks COAGBA for help because her only son, who is still a child, speaks rudely to her and has complete contempt for women.

She reports her son, Junior, to her husband for neglecting household chores. Still, her husband supports Junior’s behavior, attributing it to the belief that such tasks are the exclusive responsibility of women.

He takes Junior to COAGBA for counseling, but before they can accomplish anything, Mr. Nwoke enters the place, causing a scene. During the fight, he pushes Jane for interfering, prompting her to retaliate.

That action takes them to the police station. Mrs. Nwoke cannot expose her husband. Instead, she defends him and covers up his physical abuse of her in public. Nwoke abuses her physically, verbally and emotionally, but the police protect him, saying that a woman should be under the control of a man.

LR: Director of the EU Program on Democracy, Rule of Law and Gender, Laolu Olawumi; the head of the Governance, Gender, Human Rights and Migration Section of the EU Delegation, Rubén Alba Aguilera; and Public Affairs Officer, Ugo Sokari-George, at the recent premiere of ‘Deafening Silence’ by the European Union Delegation in Lagos.

Jane faces further difficulties when she is jailed for pushing Mr Nwoke to the ground. While in custody, Jane meets Tega, a pregnant woman trapped in an abusive marriage but too afraid to seek help. Despite being released, Tega returns to her abusive husband and continues to endure suffering.

To make matters worse, Jane visits Tega at her home and encourages her to accept help. That same night, Tega’s husband, Olaku, locks her in the bathroom overnight. The next day, he abandons her at the hospital entrance, leaving her in a pool of blood. Although she loses the baby, Tega fortunately survives.

Meanwhile, Mrs Nwoke once takes steps to challenge her husband when he tries to force her to call out the blogs to clear her name.

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Symbolism

Bimbo Akintola, Chidi Mokeme, Debby Felix, Kate Henshaw, Femi Jacobs, Toni Tones, Daniel Etim-Effiong, Ekama Etim-Inyang and others were the actors who starred in the film.

Mrs. Akintola plays the role of Mrs. Nwoke, who symbolizes women of high social status who are abused by their men but have to cover up for their husbands and protect them from the public. After her husband physically abused her in public, it started trending negatively online and to correct the impression, he wanted to force her wife to do it.

Tones, like Jane, symbolizes activists who cannot stand any kind of abuse and are willing to do whatever they can to help victims. Her character also sheds light on the fact that these abusers go unpunished for their actions.

Debby Felix, like Tega, symbolizes women who suffer sexual abuse even in marriage and feel helpless. Her husband forces her, regardless of how she feels, and if she complains or acts out, she is arrested by her brother, who is a law enforcement officer. Tega’s character reinforces how power can be misused.

COAGBA symbolizes agencies willing to fight against gender abuse, but they need victims to cooperate and express themselves. They can save many women who dare to speak out and say no to violence.