TIPTOPSTARS

It's just six minutes long, yet Rape is so telling. When it was projected during the just-ended maiden edition of the women's film festival dubbed Mis Me Binga, the audience at the French Cultural Centre and Goethe-Institut Yaounde could not hold back their emotions. The thought-provoking film forced tears from their eyes.

The same emotions were expressed by the Mis Me Binga 2010 jury that wasted no time in surrendering its special prize to Rape. At the pronouncement, the entire audience was unanimously satisfied. Its director, Naah Joyce was heavily applauded and lifted high in the air for a job well done. "I'm filled with emotions," she told TIPTOPSTARS. "I never expected this, even though I knew Rape was a beautiful job we did," Naah went on. She continued, "This is a challenge, I won't relent in my efforts to make more good quality films."

Shot and produced in 2009, Rape exposes a North West of Cameroon ritual whereby a widow suffers thorough thrashing from older widows who claim they are beating out the bad spirits of her fallen husband that could eventually haunt her. "I only came to know this when my father died," the director of the film told us. To Naah, it is such a diabolic ritual that does nothing but inflict severe pain on its victim.

Perhaps, the most exciting thing about Rape is the protagonist, Nadege Mboukoung Yzodjiwo aka Namby. The young actress from French-speaking Cameroon lives her role to the fullest. Her performance attracted audience at Mis Me Binga 2010. "You'd be surprise to learn that Rape was my first shooting experience," she told us. "I have always wanted to be movie star and when the opportunity came to go on set, I did not hesitate," she went on. The talented further told us she was overwhelmed that the film in which she starred won a prize. "This will inspire me to work harder and have more achievements," Namby said.

Also featuring in Rape are Tracy Mong and Rosalie Esindi (wife of the late comedian Esindi Mindja).

Three of English-speaking Cameroon's talented actresses have flown abroad for matters concerning their careers. Ayi Chatou Inoua (actress/producer) to Nigeria, now on her way to the Caribbean Island, Ayuk Susan Ngwai to Brazil and Besong Sandrine to China.

Ayi Chatou first left Cameroon a couple of weeks ago to handle matters concerning Royal Destiny, a hit movie she produced recently, starring Emeka Ike, Tonto Dike, Solange Yijika and Muma Pascal. "I'm also working out cooperation ties between the Cameroon and Nigerian film industries," she told us on the line to Lagos.

During her stay there, Ayi Chatou received an invitation to take part in a Caribbean film festival. "I will also grab the golden opportunity to set up working ties between our industry and the one in the Caribbean," the producer of Royal Destiny further announced.

On her part, Ayuk Susan flew to Brazil after gaining admission to read cinematography in a one of that country's universities. She was accompanied on the trip by her daughter, DaGrace who doubles as child actress. Tiptopstars is arranging an exclusive interview with the actress and producer of Erunoh in subsequent updates.

From China, comes the news of Besong Sandrine. The star actress in Musing Derick's Cluster flew in the company of her husband. On the line from China, Sandrine told Tiptopstars she is still studying the Chinese film environment. "As soon as I'm a little bit settled, I will get on set," she explained. "Then, Chinese would know what stuff Cameroonian actresses are made of," she added. Sandrine has also featured in several Cameroonian movies including Switching Hearts and Mark of the Absolute.