Following their June acquisition of Senegalese filmmaker Khady Syllla's The Silent Monologue/Le Monologue de la Muette, co-directed with Charlie Van Damme (a 45-minute analysis of the life of maids in Senegal), comes the annnouncement that ArtMattan Productions has also now added Malawian filmmaker C. Shemu Joyah's debut feature, Seasons of a Life, to their already impressive library of films from continental Africa (photo above is of the filmmaker).

The synopsis for Seasons of a Life, which screened at several international film festivals including the Zanzibar International Film Festival where it won the Chairman's Award and Verona Jury Award, among others, reads:

A housemaid, who is sexually abused by her boss and made pregnant, is forced to give up her son in order to go on with her education. Six years later she comes back to claim her son. From Malawi comes this moving story about sexual abuse, women rights and the legal justice system in Malawi. This film tackles universal themes in an African setting giving an understanding of some of the modernization and democratization processes in Africa.

Flora Suya stars as the lead character, Sungisa Malango, a maid turned lawyer who fights for custody of her child.

Visit http://africanfilm.com/ for details on purchasing, as well as to check out other undiscovered films exploring life in continental Africa. Of their recent acquisitions, I personally recommend Burkinabe polyandry dramedy An Uncommon Woman.