Rough Aunties

Jackie, Mildred, Eureka, Sdudla, and Thuli are the women behind Bobbi Bear, a nonprofit organization based in Durban, South Africa, that counsels sexually abused children and works to bring their abusers to justice. Born out of a recognition of cultural stigmas that discourage reporting abuse and inadequate methods of communicating with young victims, Bobbi Bear developed a method of letting children use teddy bears to explain their abuse. Since 1992, the multiracial staff has become the fearless and powerful voice for those victims who would otherwise continue to live in fear, powerless against their oppressors and ignored by the legal system.Director Kim Longinotto (The Day I Will Never Forget screened at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival) adeptly and intimately follows Bobbi Bear staff in difficult direct sessions with children and consultations with family members, and on raids with authorities to arrest the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Facing tragedy daily as part of their advocacy work and, heartbreakingly for some, in their personal lives, the women draw strength from each other and find hope despite the suffering around them.Equally as compassionate to the young victims as they are steadfast in their pursuit of justice, these five exceptional women have found themselves transformed by their mission into ""rough aunties,"" crossing barriers of race, culture, and socioeconomic status to become formidable agents of change in their community.

Recipient of the World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary.

CAST

Kim Longinotto - Kim Longinotto is one of the preeminent documentary filmmakers working today, renowned for creating extraordinary human portraits and tackling controversial topics with sensitivity and compassion. Her films have won many international awards, including the Prix Art et Essai at the Cannes International Film Festival for Sisters in Law and a BAFTA and FIPRESCI Prize for Divorce Iranian Style. Her other award-winning work includes Dream Girls; The Day I Will Never Forget, which won Amnesty International's prestigious DOEN Award; Shinjuku Boys, Gaea Girls, and Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go.

Screenings:

Mon. Jan 19 8:30 p.m. - ROUGH193N Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Tue. Jan 20 11:30 p.m. - ROUGH20PL Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Wed. Jan 21 10:30 p.m. - ROUGH21BN Broadway Centre Cinemas IV, SLC
Sat. Jan 24 11:30 a.m. - ROUGH243D Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City