AFI Fest 2021: Lingui: The Sacred Bonds Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s AFI Fest, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Lingui The Sacred Bonds takes place on the outskirts of N’Djamena in Chad and follows a woman named Amina (Abakar) who lives alone with her only 15-year-old daughter Maria (Alio) who becomes pregnant with a pregnancy she did not want. In a country where abortion is not only condemned by religion, but also by law, Amina found herself facing a battle that already seemed lost.

The topic of pregnancy and abortion is obviously a contentious one, especially in the United States to say the least with several states effectively banning and criminalizing abortion. People in America can so self-involved regarding these politics that they can fail to see outside the scope of their own country and realize that this is not necessarily specific to the United States. To be fair, one could argue that many non-American countries have basically taken notes from America’s textbook when it comes to certain laws, but it’s often hard for some people to understand the struggle that doesn’t come immediately to them. So what do similar struggles with anti-abortion laws look like in other countries?

Lingui The Sacred Bonds asks that question and shows a fairly brutally honest look at life in N’Djamena’s outskirts for the underprivileged. This film has a clear, raw feel that filmmakers can only capture from outside the film industry. Viewers get a sense of the turmoil our main characters go through trying to find a safe place to deal with their issues, along with the complicated mother-daughter relationship with the context of the community around them. Besides the U.S. anti-abortion laws, the film also comments on the religious undercurrent beneath all those laws, showing the roots of these movements, and the people of color who are disproportionately affected. It is effective in portraying the struggles the lower class face, as well as being specific to the country of Chad.

When it comes to Lingui The Sacred Bonds, the only true flaws are that it can feel a bit dry and somewhat short. Meanwhile, the tone can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Viewers might not want to revisit this immediately after watching it. In the end, for those looking for a sobering look at the world in specific views and lanes, this one absolutely works. It’s admirable for a lot of reasons.

still courtesy of MUBI

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Gabe Guarin

letterboxd.com/misterhulot/