Three+ years in the making, the feature documentary, “Small Small Thing: The Olivia Zinnah Story” – directed by Jessica Vale, produced by Nika Offenbac and Vale, co-produced by Barnie Jones – is the story of a mother and daughter in Liberia, who find themselves challenged by tradition, when it is discovered that the 9-year-old had been brutally raped 2 years prior.
The film, which we first alerted you to about 4 years ago, when the filmmakers were raising funds to complete it – begins with the discovery of a nine year old girl in the hospital, severely malnourished and handicapped. Believing the cause of her injuries to be witchcraft, the village elders (and her mother) hide the girl for 2 years as her condition worsens. A visiting medical team draws the conclusion that she was brutally raped. The film follows the journey over the course of the next 9 months, after this little girl and her mother are shunned from their village for seeking outside help.
“Small Small Thing” is the result of the investigations by the filmmakers, revealing what they call “an intricate web of corruption, adventure and hope.”
There’s a lot more to this story, obviously, and you’re strongly encouraged to watch the film. I’ve just been informed that “Small Small Thing” will be launching on several new digital distribution platforms over the next few months, starting with Vimeo On Demand, where you can rent the multiple award winning film right now, for $4.99.
Unfortunately, the young girl who is at the center of the film, Olivia Zinnah, didn’t get to see the completed work because, very sadly, she died on December 20, 2012, as a result of the long-term complications of the brutal rape she suffered at age 7.
She was 13 at the time of her death.
In a statement, director Vale said about Olivia: “Olivia was Liberian, but her voice is global. How many times, in how many countries does this have to happen for people to pay attention?”
In Zinnah’s honor, a scholarship was set up in her name – The Olivia Zinnah Scholarship Fund. Created by Mawata Kamara (founder of Holistic Education Advocating Leadership (HEAL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to “tackling the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in Liberia and West Africa,” the scholarship will be awarded to 1 high school girl in Liberia each year for continuing education in the medical field. The recipient must fulfill community service hours working with NGO sponsors HEAL and THINK, in addition to maintaining academic success.
According to UN statistics, rape is still the #1 crime in Liberia, despite President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s efforts (and Nobel Peace Prize); the majority of the victims are said to be children – some as young as 2 years old.
Below you’ll find a trailer for the film, as well as a link that will take you to Vimeo where you can rent it:
