Leila Djansi
Turning Point Pictures has scheduled a Ghana release of its critically acclaimed film, ‘Like Cotton Twines’ on December 25 at Ho in the Volta Region.
The film which won Best Picture at the 2016 Ghana Movie Awards shines light on Trokosi, a religious form that enslaves women in a shrine, practised in the Volta Region.
According to the director Leila Djansi, premiering in the Volta Region will allow the message of the film get to the intended persons; leaders and women of the Volta Region.
“It is loaning my voice to women, not only in the Volta Region but all over Ghana and the world. We want to tell ourselves that education is a powerful tool for advancement and change. Education in a four walled classroom is essential, not everyone has that, so skill acquisition which also provides income, financial independence. An independent woman is a powerful woman, a woman who can stand up for herself and her children,” Leila Djansi said.
‘Like Cotton Twines’ tells the story of Micah, an American volunteer who takes a teaching job in a remote town of the Volta Region. He encounters Tuigi, his 14-year-old student who is to become Trokosi to atone for her father’s crime. Micah begins the arduous task of fighting church and state to free Tuigi from this cruel fate.
Luckie Lawson who plays Tuigi’s mother in the film added that if the mother had a voice, social and financial independence, she could have saved her daughter- a poignant reason why women should not be trapped by rules of culture and society.
The film will premiere at the GNAT Hall, Ho on December 25, 2016 at 6:00pm prompt.
Tickets are on sale for GH¢10 and stars expected to attend the event are Luckie Lawson, David Dontoh, Adjetey Annang, Mawuli Semevo, among others.
‘Like Cotton Twines’ stars Jay Ellis, Ophelia Dzidzornu, Miranda Bailey, Yvonne Okoro, David Dontoh, Luckie Lawson and Mawuli Semevo.
The very successful film has travelled industry festivals around the world and won the Best Narrative Feature at the Savannah Film Festival.
The film supports international needs, a religious organisation that frees women from Trokosi and enrols them in institutions for skill acquisition in Adidome in the Volta Region.