Celebrated Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (A Screaming Man) makes a remarkable return to his home country with Lingui, The Sacred Bonds, in which a mother struggles to secure an abortion for her pregnant teen daughter. Honest and poignant, gorgeously shot and superbly acted, this official submission to the 2022 Academy Awards is a stunning vision of female solidarity. Film critics have noticed:
“Haroun has a gift for distilling volumes of meaning in his direct, lucid, balanced visuals, which he uses to complement and illuminate the minimalist, naturalistic dialogue.” ~ Manohla Dargis, New York Times
“It’s a bracing work that passes quickly in 87 minutes. But the world it shows us, etched in fully felt performances and beautifully hued compositions, feels vividly, sometimes overwhelmingly present.” ~ Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times
“Beautiful to look at, impeccably shot and boasts a righteous, perfectly judged, weapon-wielding climax.” ~ Kevin Maher, Times [UK]
“Haroun shows how the strength of sisterhood extends beyond family to unite women in resistance, and the movie’s powerful vision of their furtive heroism reflects the overwhelming forces that they confront.” ~ Richard Brody, New Yorker
“As we tag along with Harouns characters, we learn to appreciate their story as a small, but vivid study of lives that are so much more than their progressive developments.” ~ Simon Abrams, RogerEbert.com
“But it’s the silent allegiances of sisterhood, a near-underground network operating to safeguard women’s rights, which exercise Haroun’s imagination throughout this excellent piece.” ~ Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph [UK]
“The intense, focused performances from the two central women keep this drama in a hyper-alert state.” ~ Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
“A beautiful portrait of community.” ~ Lovia Gyarkye, Hollywood Reporter