Freetown | 2nd January 2023 | Vertex Media
The adage, ‘curiosity kills the cat’, was the real state of mind of the audience at the second private screening of the latest thrilling Sierra Leonean movie – ‘Where Lies The Truth’, a film filled with suspense, conflicts and surprises.
This private screening attracted top personalities, especially female folks, at the auditorium of the Freetown City Hall, in Freetown on Friday night. Among the distinguished personalities include, Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles – Executive Director of Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone, Tuma Gento Kamara – Board Chair of NRA, Priscilla Okechukwu – Coding Head, Orange Digital Center, Orange Foundation, and several others.
Tuma Gento Kamara 
Claire Carlton Hanciles 
‘Where Lies The Truth’ is an African film produced by Spectree Multimedia and A Fiamaple Film. It tells a true life story of a woman faced with challenges, mysteries and despair in her marriage, friendship and love. Lead cast, Zainab ‘Gina’ Sillah-Fiamaple was faced with a serious challenge of proving the lineage of her son and the bearer of her pregnancy, after an initial tests suggested that they ain’t her husband’s.
A wife, whose husband was abroad, mysteriously got pregnant in the face of allegations of cheating for carrying a strange pregnancy. Her husband, upon learning about his wife’s pregnancy, became depressed and resorted to alcoholism as his refuge.
The situation became worse and intriguing when tests suggest that the first son, was never her’s nor her husband’s son. It becomes interesting and compelling for the audience to see the rest of the movie to know how it all happened.
It was indeed a question of ‘where lies the truth’? As both the husband and wife were in a dilemma of a herculean task to prove the unknown.
In the end, it all came out to the fore. The son they raised for years was apparently exchanged in the hospital after delivery, unknowingly, they took someone else’s son home as their son. For the mysterious pregnancy, it was revealed that the house-help/driver drugged his boss (the wife) while serving her tea, and eventually had sex with her while asleep, as a result of the drug he dissolved in the tea, which took her to a state of unconsciousness. Meaning, the mysterious pregnancy is owned by the house-help. And the husband nor the wife had any knowledge about it, as she remained faithful to her husband.
Ibrahim Sorious Samura 
Desmond Finney 
Based on a true life story, Zainab Sillah had to get pregnant in real life, nursed her pregnancy and delivered the baby, which formed part of the storyline.
‘Where Lies The Truth’ also casted Mariama Seray Asgill, Thelma Barnett, Desmond Finney, Emma Dyfan, Muwahid Camara, Aminata Aminash Kabba, and others.
It contains a high pitched storyline, characterisation, scenes/locations, directing, quality picture and sound. The film was directed by Zainab’s husband, Joseph Mensah Fiamaple, and edited by Ibrahim ‘Slym’ Kebbay of Facelift Multimedia, while the videography was done by Ibrahim Katch Cole.
Halfway into the screening, key statements were made at the event.
Khadija Jalloh aka Dija, President of Sierra Leone Female Producers reiterated the role the film industry is playing in rebranding the country and creating employment opportunities.
“What we are doing is something that can take our nation to another level. The film industry can create employment opportunities for a good number of people. Consider filmmaking as an office, not an institution for dropouts.”
Christiana Kamara, Vice President of Actors Guild Sierra Leone, applauds the producer, Zainab Sillah and team for their magnificent job and lamented on the role female filmmakers play in the industry.
“We (women) are underrepresented in the Sierra Leone film industry. An industry dominated by men. We are the best storytellers, because we know the issues. We are the victims of sexual harassment, bullying, etc.”
“Filmmaking involves money. We need the right support to acquire good equipment, and produce better films.”
Tuma Gento Kamara, Board Chairperson of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), commented on the challenges women face in all walks of life, especially in entertainment, because of their gender.
Further acknowledging that every industry in Sierra Leone is male dominated.
She continued by praising the movie and advocated for more support.
“I believe in women empowerment. I’m very impressed with what I see, so different from what Sierra Leone movies used to be.”
“Skills training can add value to your work. We will get more people on board to support the film industry.”
Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles, Executive Director of Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone, advises for the marketing of activities in the film industry, especially the female, so as to attract more public interest.
“Engaging with the media is very important for the growth of the sector. You need more networking.
“We are ready to support and put our money.”
Priscilla Okechukwu, Coding Head, Orange Digital Center, Orange Foundation.
She told an inspirational story from Naomi McDougall Jones’ movie ‘Imagine I’m Beautiful’, a story she used to inspire the women to break the barriers.
“We women have broken barriers.”
She further advised them to build your networks and collaborate with one another.
After seeing the second half of the fascinating movie (‘Where Lies The Truth‘), everyone was relieved, especially getting to know the actual story of the movie, after watching for over two hours.
Many gave their reviews and reactions on what they consider as the most fascinating and most intriguing story of this nature –
‘Where Lies The Truth’ – Spectree Multimedia wow audience at a second private screening
“This movie left me drilled on adrenaline. In the end, the moral. It’s been a long time since I stopped watching movies, but this one caught me spellbound, from start to finish. And indeed it has a huge moral lesson of domestic help. How much you can trust them, where you can go with them, what you can take from them. And the fact that you don’t leave all your personal demands to house-help, they will mess you up.”
Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles, Executive Director of Legal Aid Board
“This movie is amazing and intriguing. It keeps you in suspense. It’s not like the other movies, when you start watching, you would already conclude for yourself. But this one is different.
This is the first Sierra Leonean movie I have watched from the beginning to the end, because the twist in the story got me hooked on it.”
Lawyer Emma Banya, E.S Banya & Co
“Actually the suspense in the movie was really good. One of the lessons learnt is that we should be less judgemental in certain situations.
The quality is so high, even the way the actors carried themselves in the movie was so professional. Everything about the movie is amazing.”
Tuma Gento Kamara, Board Chairperson of NRA
“I’m so lucky to be a part of this private screening. And as a Sierra Leonean, I’m proud of what I’m seeing in the movie industry.
I just want other filmmakers to follow what Zainab Sillah and other good producers are doing in this country. It really has a good storyline. Everything about the movie is in place. This is something that you like to sit down and watch till the end.”
Director Daniel
“The movie has a very interesting story. One that I have not acted in before. It’s beyond the normal type of acting where you get to predict exactly what the outcome should be. But even us the actors, we were like ‘what’s happening here’.
When you read the script, you would know that this is not something you’ve been used to. So even when we were acting we were encouraged to do our best, because we were portraying something that’s unusual. When you come out of your comfort zone to portray something that’s spectacular, and for you to put yourself in that position to portray a character that you’ve never played before. It’s kind of unique and I enjoyed my role so much, because it’s hard to get a friend that is supportive to that extent.
Mariama Seray Asgill, the actress who played the role of ‘Jackie’, a friend to the lead actress Zainab
The twist in the story was when my friend got pregnant and I knew the husband was not in town and I have never seen her boyfriend. But the actual shock came when I was also told that the son wasn’t her’s neither her husband’s, so that left me somehow like, Mr. Director, what are you playing at (smile)?
It’s really at the peak that I realized that this is unique.”
My message to my colleague filmmakers is to be passionate about what we’re doing. It takes a lot of effort, it takes a lot of practice, it takes a lot of you being enthusiastic and confident in what we’re doing. And also be ready to learn.”
“I’m opportuned to be here to watch this movie. It is intriguing, it’s beautiful and also educative. The concept is so nice and creative.
The lesson I learnt is that you don’t just let loose your guard even when you are at home. Because knowing the truth from this movie, you will find out that the person you least expected from was the one who caused the problem.
And sometimes when you are going through challenges, you don’t just get discouraged, you just need to fight through to the end.
I want to thank the Producer of this wonderful movie. I wish her the best.”
Priscilla Okechukwu, Coding Head, Orange Digital Center, Orange Foundation.
The producer and lead character, Zainab ‘Gina’ Sillah-Fiamaple said that the film was done to tell the stories of hidden reality of domestic issues women confront. The film will also serve as an eye-opener to many women who sometimes leave all personal chores to their drivers, housemaids or house-helps.
She also noted that some of the problems women face in their marriages emanate from the people they entrust the most.
By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
©️ www.vertexmedia.sl
