Project of the Day: A Housekeeper Struggles to Rebuild Her Life

Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite.
 

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“The People v. Aissatou Ba”

Tweetable Logline:

An immigrant housekeeper picks up the pieces of her life as the man who assaulted her walks free.

Elevator Pitch:

Months after the case against wealthy German diplomat Henrik Keppler is thrown out, Aissatou Ba—the housekeeper he allegedly assaulted—struggles to reassemble a life for herself and her daughter.

Inspired by the New York v. Strauss-Kahn case, THE PEOPLE v. AISSATOU BA is a story about a Guinean immigrant housekeeper and single mother trying to live a normal life after a sexual assault case pits her and her daughter against the American justice system.

But how will she find justice and her lost dignity?

Production Team:

Writer/Director: Iquo B. Essien
DP: Michael Rossetti
Assistant Director: Pamela Moriarty
2nd AD: Leah Teplin
2nd 2nd AD: Chris Zou
Co-producer: Belynda M'baye
Production Designer: Taryn Jones
Costume Designer: Eniola Dawodu
Script Supervisor: Jill Cohen

About the Production:

Inspired by the New York v. Strauss-Kahn case, THE PEOPLE v. AISSATOU BA asks the question: What price does Aissatou pay for telling the truth?

It's a critical question with real-life social justice implications.

Hotel unions report that sexual harassment, requests for sex, and assaults go underreported because housekeepers--largely immigrant, single mothers--are scared to lose their jobs. In life, as in film, no matter what the cost, the price of silence is too high. Through this film, I give voice to a true story that occurs behind closed doors every day.

Current Status:

In production.

For more information and to support this film:

IndieGoGo Page (Campaign closed, but filmmakers can still be contacted)
Film Website