In the capital of Ghana, 10 000 girls from the ages of 6 work as real life shopping baskets - called Kayayo, carrying heavy loads on their head (from 130 to 220 pounds), earning very little and some end up in prostitution to make ends meet so they will get enough money to support their family and so their brothers can go to school. This documentary is about Bamunu, an 8-year old girl who hasn’t seen her family since she was sent away from home, two years ago, to work as a Kayayo to support her family. We follow her incessant longing to get away from the harsh markets, her journey back home and what awaits there. Kayayo means “girl-carrier” in the Ga language.

Interview with Writer/Director Mari Bakke Riise

Congratulations!

Thank you. I am very grateful that my film has been so warmly welcomed.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

To get to know the story of the brave and wonderful girls in Ghana who work as slaves to support their family. The story is told through my main character in this film, Bamunu who is an 8 year old girl.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The story in this film is told through the main character, Bamunu. by telling her story I tell the story of the other girls in Ghana and other children in the world who are suffering from children labour. Through the film we get to follow Bamunu's personal processes and how she feels and thinks. but also the universal story that's about hope, being let down and what a human being's worth and life are about.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

I have a Norwegian friend who worked in a NGO in Ghana with a program to help the Kayayo girls. She told me about the situation of the girls and I decided to make a documentary about them. We got support from Film Fonds in Norway and started the filming process.

The first idea was to follow three girls and to see their personal growth and process and hear their stories through the new life they would get from the NGO. Then the NGO shut down and I had to find another way to follow a girl with a personal process and change/development through the film.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

I am grateful for the first prize awards we have received so far from festivals around the globe, but what makes me really happy is the feedback I have got from people who have seen the film. They tell me that they are moved by the story and they have contacted me because they want to help the girls.

There have also been programmers who have seen the film and invited it to be screened either at other film festivals or things that can make an bigger impact and change in the girls' situation.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It makes me really, really happy. This is what I hoped would come out of this film. that it would create awareness about the girls' situation that would generate help and change for them.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

That it will reach out to the right people who can see it and hopefully it can generate some help for the girls: maybe in different ways; and in ways I haven't thought of...?

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I really want this film to reach out to different platforms so as many people as possible are able to see this film so the girls story will be told and something good will come out of this for the girls.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

First of all I think bringing awareness to people is a very good way to start, in all areas of life and around the world.

Would you like to add anything else?

If people want to follow us on Facebook. where people can find information on how to help the girls. the Facebook address is: @thelivingshoppingbaskets

I want to share the link to the film. you can watch it here:

KAYAYO - the living shopping baskets
Click the link:
https://player.vimeo.com/external/183990478.hd.mp4?s=09e757eee4b081799fcf15da3fc3cb8447353dac&profile_id=119

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Different things. I am, for instancem working on developing a documentary about an old couple. a love story about them where I also bring to light what a lived life is really about.

Interview: January 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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KAYAYO - the living shopping baskets

Length: 33 min

Director: Mari Bakke Riise

Producer: Jørgen Lorentzen

Writer: Mari Bakke Riise

About the writer, director and producer:

Mari Bakke Riise (born 1982) is educated as a documentary director. she has worked in the film- and televisionindustry for over 10 years and had directed several television productions documentaries and documentaries.

Jørgen Lorentzen owns Integral Film A/S - a production company which focuses their productions on human rights topics and gender. Integral film has produced several
documentaries over the last ten years.

Key cast: Bamunu Abdul Somed

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Yes

Funders: Norwegian Film Institute, Viken filmsenter, AftenpostenTV, Fond for lyd og bilde, Bergensenstiftelsen, Kaja og Bårds fond for gode formål.

Made in association with: AftenpostenTV