Content Advisory: Rape and Sexual Assault
Three teenage friends attract outcry after the video of an assault is posted online in Sisterhood. Amina (Léah Aubert), Djeneba (Médina Diarra), and Zineb (Salma Takaline) are three lifelong friends from varying social backgrounds. At a party, Amina ends up filming Zineb receiving unwanted sexual advances from Zakaria (Oscar Al Hafiane), the best friend of Zineb’s brother. Amina ended up anonymously posting the video on social media, which attracted a large outcry from not only Zakaria but Djeneba and Zineb themselves.
Sisterhood Synopsis
Sisterhood is the debut feature film from writer and director Nora el Hourch. Newcomer Léah Aubert stars as the main protagonist Amina, who is already viewed as somewhat of an outcast by her friends, since she lives in an upscale neighbourhood with her white French mother Chantal (Bérénice Bejo) and Arab father Ahmed (Mounir Magroum). While attempting to help her friend Zineb, Amina’s social media social justice campaign puts her in danger from repercussions by Zakaria, but also makes her a pariah to Djeneba and Zineb.
My Thoughts on Sisterhood
Sisterhood is just as much a film about social status and race, as it is a film about sexual harassment. Amina’s status as a half-white woman from an upscale neighbourhood results in her friends criticizing Amina for her supposed privilege, as they demand that she take down the video before any more damage is done. The conflict between the friends does get a bit too much at times, but ultimately Sisterhood is a film that gives a very positive message for the #MeToo era.
