COUNTRY: Belgium, Cameroon YEAR: 2023 RUNNING TIME: 93 min
DIRECTED BY: Rosine Mbakam
LANGUAGE(S): French, Creole, Bamileke, Pidgin
SUBTITLES: English
CAST: Pierrette Aboheu Njeuthat, Marguerite Mbakop, Duval Franklin Nwodu Chinedu, Léonce Sonia Bangoub, Chamard Yotchou
PRODUCER: Geoffroy Cernaix, Aimé césaire DIMENKEU NKUÉ
WRITTEN BY: Rosine Mbakam
EDITED BY: Geoffroy Cernaix
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Fiona Braillon
Screenings
Synopsis
The city of Douala is in trepidation for the start of the new school year. A long line of customers come to Mambar Pierrette, the neighbourhood dressmaker, to have their clothes ready for imminent social events and ceremonies. More than just a sewer, Pierrette becomes the confidant of her customers, of a generation. But when the rain starts pouring down and threatens to flood her workshop – one of several successive misfortunes – Pierrette will have to stay afloat.
Over the past ten years, Cameroonian filmmaker Rosine Mbakam has made a name for herself with her quiet, observational documentary portraits of African women in the European diaspora. In her feature film debut, she now travels back to Cameroon and tells a semi-documentary story of resilience and dignity in the face of socio-economic difficulties. Mambar Pierrette is played by Mbakam’s cousin of the same name, who is also a seamstress. A tender film at eye level, whose naturalistic approach is characterized by moments of great beauty.
Director
Rosine Mbakam
Biography
Rosine Mbakam grew up in Cameroon and began her career in cinema with the Italian NGO COE before working in television as an editor, director, and anchor. In 2007, she moved to Belgium to study at INSAS, graduating in 2012. Her debut feature documentary THE TWO FACES OF A BAMILEKE WOMAN and her follow-up CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE (NIHRFF 2019) screened at over sixty international festivals, including IFFR Rotterdam, Dok Leipzig, and FESPACO, and earned critical acclaim from major outlets.
She co-founded Tândor Productions in Belgium and Tândor Films in Cameroon, where she also runs Caravane Cinéma, bringing African films to working-class neighborhoods through open-air screenings. Her latest work includes DELPHINE’S PRAYERS (NIHRFF 2021), PRISM (NIHRFF 2023), and her fiction film MAMBAR PIERRETTE. She teaches at KASK in Ghent while continuing to develop new projects with her production companies in Belgium and Cameroon.
Filmography
The Two Faces of a Bamiléké Woman (2018), Chez Jolie Coiffure (2018, NIHRFF 2019), Delphine’s Prayers (2021, NIHRFF 2021), Prism (2021, NIHRFF 2023), Mambar Pierette (2023)
Links /Contacts
INSTAGRAM: @rosine_mbakam
PRODUCTION: Tândor productions
WORLD SALES: Théo Lionel, The Party Film Sales