Asylum : fleeing genital mutilation /
Asylum is a powerful tale of a young Ghanian woman whose life suddenly changes when her father insists that she undergo a bloody, life-threatening circumcision and then marry an old man. Although traditional circumcision is now illegal in Ghana, it is still practiced. Baaba Andoh had a happy childho...
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| Format: | Video |
| Language: | English |
| Language Notes: | English. |
| Published: |
New York, NY :
Filmakers Library,
2003.
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| Series: | Filmakers Library online.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to this streaming video (Alexander Street Press) |
| Summary: | Asylum is a powerful tale of a young Ghanian woman whose life suddenly changes when her father insists that she undergo a bloody, life-threatening circumcision and then marry an old man. Although traditional circumcision is now illegal in Ghana, it is still practiced. Baaba Andoh had a happy childhood, raised by her mother who sold vegetables in the market place. Baaba had sought out her long-lost father to seek his blessing for her marriage to the man of her dreams. To her horror, she learned of her father s plan and fled her village. Her father, a man of some means, pursued her. Having no recourse but to leave the country, she obtained a false passport and a ticket to the U.S. with the help of friends. The INS spotted the forgery immediately and arrested her at Newark Airport. She spends a nightmarish year in prison before she is successful in obtaining political asylum. Her chilling story is not unlike that of many of the 7,000 women immigrants now being held in detention, awaiting legal representation and hearings on their claims. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (21 min.) |
| Playing Time: | 00:25:42 |
| Audience: | For High School; College; Adult audiences. |
| Awards: | Academy Award Nomination, 2004 Harlem Film Festival, 2004 Best Documentary, Aspen Shortsfest, 2003 Crystal Heart Award, Heartland Film Festival, 2003 Palm Springs Film Festival, 2003 New Directors, New Films, 2003 New York Expo of Short Films, 2004 |