African FILM FESTIVAL New Zealand

Synopsis

The paths of four very different women converge in this free spirited road movie across western Africa. Each is making the long trip from Bamako in Mali to Nigeria’s bustling capital Lagos, passing through Burkina Faso and Benin on the way. Crammed together on a stifling bus, they take in the breathtaking landscapes of coastal and Sahelian countries. bus breakdowns, traffic jams, highway robbers, fights between passengers and, worst of all, corrupt and violent border customs officers. these initially private women join forces. Borders is an affecting and at times funny drama about female friendship and empowerment, which also highlights a growing regional problem in west Africa, where lack of integration is thwarting policies on the free circulation of people and goods.