Actress cum director, Stephanie Linus, has released the much anticipated trailer of her second directorial effort, Dry. The movie has been three years in the making. It was inspired by the true story of a young girl named Aisha, whom Stephanie met in Nigeria, many years ago.
The movie follows the trail of Zara’s (Stephanie Linus) trip to Africa, her constant turmoil as a result of inexplicable horrors from her childhood, her experiences and heartaches while working with young girls suffering from complications from early child birth as child brides, against the backdrop of a rich African culture.
According to Stephanie, “DRY journeys into heart-wrenching details of a culture not too many film dare to explore. The issue might seem controversial, but if it will set one girl free and open the minds of the people, and also instruct different bodies and individuals to take action, then the movie would have served its purpose.”
The film stars: Darwin Shaw as Dr. Alex, the legendary Liz Benson Ameye as the Matron, Bill McNamara as Dr. Brown, and Introducing Zubaida Ibrahim as Halima the teenager who had to endure a life not designed for a child: to be married to a man who was more than four times her age. Next Page Productions partnered with Aberystwyth University, Wales to shoot the film in Nigeria and in England.
Synopsis
Zara, a successful African doctor living in Wales is determined to stay away from her childhood memories and this now threatens her commitment to marry Alex, a gentleman she truly loves. Her mother, a missionary to Africa, has been unable to get Zara to go with her for her yearly medical aid trips to Africa. When her mother falls ill and unable to make a crucial trip and Zara discovers there is a strong possibility her long lost daughter might still be alive in Africa, she steered in a new direction to face and conquer her darkest fears. Her trip to Africa becomes inevitable.
Back in Africa, thirteen- year old Halima’s poor parents make her marry Sani, an old 60 year old man. With no idea of sex or its intricacies, she goes through a dreadful ordeal as her new husband repeatedly rapes her. Pregnant and after the delivery of her child, young Halima suffers a condition known as Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). A health nightmare suffered by over 800,000 other women just like her, she is ostracize and abandoned by her husband, family and community. It is a period of rejection, isolation and despair for Halima.
Watch the trailer below.
