Project Detail

The Secret Laughter of Women

Synopsis

Nimi leads a relatively peaceful life amongst the female dominated Nigerian community in a picturesque coastal town in southern France. Life consists of working as a landscape gardener, looking after her eight year old son Sammy and attending exuberant masses at the local African church. Nimi's unmarried status (and son) are frowned upon by her traditionalist neighbours and her mother Nene is very keen to marry her off to confer her with respectability. When the handsome Reverend Fola moves into town and shows interest in Nimi, it is like a godsend for Nene who desperately attempts to get the two together.

Nimi's son Sammy, however, has other ideas. He has confused writer Matthew, the creator of his beloved comic action hero Saracen, with his heroic creation and deems him a much more suitable match than the Reverend Fola for his mother. He tries at length to persuade Matthew to marry his mother instead, using every means at his disposal to unite them.

Against their expectations, love blossoms. Although Nimi has resigned herself to marriage to the rather unexciting Reverend Fola, she is intrigued by Matthew. However, she is also very aware of Matthew's married status, distrust of women and general unwillingness to commit to a relationship. In contrast, Matthew is drawn to Nimi not just for her beauty, but the stability of her African way of life and an innate goodness which throws him completely off-guard.

Details

Year: 1998
Type of project: Features
Format: 35mm
Director: Peter Schwabach
Producer: Gareth Jones
Executive Producer: Gareth Jones
Director of Photography: Martin Fuhrer
Principal cast: Colin Firth and Nia Long
Screen Writer: O. O. Sagay

Genre

Black Drama

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Elba Films c/o Handmade Films 19 Beak Street London W1R 3LB Tel: 020 7434 3132 Fax: 020 7434 3143 E Mail: (name)@handmadefilms.co.uk

Sales Company

as Production Company

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