SYNOPSIS
On the outskirts of N'djamena in Chad, Amina lives alone with her only 15-year-old daughter Maria. Her already fragile world collapses the day she discovers that her daughter is pregnant. The teenager does not want this pregnancy. In a country where abortion is not only condemned by religion, but also by law, Amina finds herself facing a battle that seems lost in advance...


"What is lingui? And what can it do to help face exclusion, terrible trials, and ordeals? 'Lingui is a Chadian word that means bond or connection. It is what links people in order for them to live together. Lingui is a term that implies solidarity, mutual aid, and keeping each other afloat. I can only exist because others do—that is the common thread, the sacred bond of the social fabric.' ... I’d like to think that Harun’s film not only represents the making and unmaking of lingui among various characters but also calls for some sort of lingui from the spectator. Through the use of ellipsis (meaning omissions) and silent suggestions (meaning suggesting without openly saying), the film hopes to activate a secret bond, a thread with us—viewers. I leave you with Harun’s words: 'I like movies that trust the audience and give them the possibility of constructing the story along with the director.' "
(from the introduction by Giovanna Conti, Italian Studies, Brown University)