Baba, a young Ghanaian woman, goes in search of her father for his blessing on her impending marriage. This turns to a nightmare as he insists she a different man, and that she undergo female genital mutilation as is the custom in his tribe. She is forced to flee her father's village, seeking refugee status in the U.S. Instead she becomes enmeshed in the U.S. immigration system.
Direction
McLeod lets the horror breathe in mundanity—no exploitation, just truth.
Editing
20 minutes compressed like a fist to your throat. Nothing wasted.
Director
Sandy McLeod
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made in 2003, this predated widespread mainstream conversations about FGM in U.S. documentary spaces. McLeod was pioneering.
The immigration system's labyrinth is the second villain here—Baba escapes one trap to be caught in institutional indifference.
US
