Sisters in Law Analysed

To investigate the filmmaking theory of Kim Longinotto further, I analysed the techniques she uses in her 2005 film, Sisters in Law which is set in Kumba, Cameroon. I put my findings into the categories of Cinematography, Sound design, editing and miscellaneous for the obscure things I found that couldn’t be placed in set categories.

Cinematography

• Environmental Shots: Longinotto uses shots that feature nature to show additional context for the audience. This is present at the beginning of the film when we see the nature in the village before we see the main focus of the film.
• Shots of Poverty: Longinotto repeats shots of poverty throughout the film as a constant reminder to the audience.
• Handheld Shots:  Longinotto films the camera by hand without a tripod. This allows the audience to see interesting events as they unfold as if we are in the room viewing the conversation/movement.
• The use of the camera to show broader understanding: Longinotto uses the camera to show the audience further details about village, an example of this is when Longinotto shows someone sweeping the floor.
• Use of close-ups: Longinotto uses close-ups to show the audience key information, an example of this is when the judge is detailing the cases in the film, this is done to give the audience a sense of confrontation.
• Shifts in Focus: Longinotto often shifts the focus from character to character to show expression, this is done mostly when the camera goes from focusing on a woman to focusing on a child.

Sound Design

• Non diegetic score: Longinotto uses a non-diegetic composed score in the film which appears at the beginning and end of the film. The score itself sounds like it originates from Cameroon (where the film is set), this is done to reflect the ideas of a simple life and justice for the audience.
• Lack of Voice-Over/Narration:  There is no narration throughout the duration of the film, this is done to create a sense of realism for the audience.
• Diegetic Realistic Sounds: The film heavily uses diegetic sounds of the real world, this is done to show the audience that the documentary is set in the real world.

Editing 

• Titles: Titles are used in the film as a method to introduce new characters or locations without the use of voice-overs or narration.
• Long Takes and Infrequent Edits: For most of the film, editing is used to transition between different locations or to show the passing of time. There are some scenes however where editing is used to keep the unscripted conversations topical since some conversations could be irrelevant.
• Subtitles: Subtitles are used when the locals are speaking or when they are spoken to. Speakers in the film use a combination of Standard and Pigeon English.

Other

• Idea of the camera in the room: With the camera being in the room at all times, some characters may exaggerate their reactions deliberately to put on a performance for the audience. An example of this is when we see the judge confront the girls aunt on beating her.
• Forced to watch scenes: Longinotto deliberately doesn’t cut away from scenes of upset and distress forcing the audience to watch, this is done to show the real hidden truth behind each scene (Cinema Verite).
• Balance: Throughout the scene Longinotto shows a balance of good and bad men and women, this is done to show all the villagers rather than only focusing on the negative characters.
• Authority: Longinotto presents women as powerful, they are shown calmly dealing with the different cases and various situations that the men aren’t used to dealing with.
• Clothing: Clothing is used to show the figures of power in the film, with the judges and police wearing uniforms and business dress. This can be compared to the casual/working clothes worn by the civilians in the film.
• Deliberate Choice in Cases: Longinotto chose the cases in the film deliberately to find footage that will send a message to the audience, this is done to provoke a reaction. The cases were also picked since it showed some of Longinotto’s ‘Rebels’.