Mama Colonel

Colonel Honorine Munyole is the commander of a protection unit for women and children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is a dedicated woman who is persistent in the face of widespread abuse. In Dieudo Hamadi's observational documentary, her superiors assign her to a different town, which brings new challenges. The women of Bukavu worry that no one will look after them after Munyole leaves for Kisangani, but she vows to return when she can. Munyole introduces herself to the new unit, telling them she is a widow with seven children, four of whom are adopted. Two of her cases involve children, a young girl suffering beatings at the hands of her stepmother (her father is often away on business) and a group of battered kids accused of witchcraft. At the market, Munyole complains to the townspeople, "Children here are really mistreated." Individually, women share stories with her about abuses suffered during the Six-Day War between the Rwandans and the Ugandans—from the kidnapping of their children to the murder of their husbands. Munyole sets up a shelter for the widows, although it lacks a toilet and running water. People in town who were injured during the war dismiss the women as "fake victims," because they suffered no visible harm. They also appeal to Munyole for help, but women and children are her first priority (though she brings as many to the shelter as she can). Although Mama Colonel doesn't indicate that Munyole's charges will ever have better facilities, there's no doubt they're safer than they were before. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)