A contemporary drama set in Nigeria about one woman's desperate need for a male child. It explores the discrimination of women in the names of culture and religion.

Amaka Okoli (39) is a devoted wife to Nonso (40), and a loving mother to their daughter Ijeoma (7). She is six months pregnant, and has a job that she loves. Amaka is happy. Then Mama, her mother in-law, tells Amaka that her current pregnancy had better be a boy to carry on the family name, or she will be forced to bring in another woman for her son to marry. A few days later, at Nonso's 40th birthday party, Mama invites the potential second wife, Chima. This scares Amaka who herself is from a polygamous family because her mother gave birth to only her.
Amaka, who had earlier refused a sonogram, has one. It's a boy! Later that day, Amaka starts to bleed. She rushes back to the hospital where she delivers her dead son. Complications with the birth means she won't be able to have any more children.
The next morning, Amaka calls Nonso, who is away on business, to tell him about her miscarriage, but he beats her to it by saying his only brother, Chidi, just died in a car accident. Amaka tells no one about her miscarriage. Instead she fakes being pregnant while waiting for a good time to tell Nonso the truth. This causes Amaka to push him away. She also looks into adopting a baby for them but that falls apart.
After Amaka's brother in-law's funeral, Mama falls "ill" and moves in with Amaka and Nonso, and insists on bringing "help" in the form of Chima. This further widens the rift between Amaka and Nonso.
Soon after, an even more desperate Amaka is approached again by the same pregnant woman, Joy, whose baby she had tried to adopt earlier. A week to her delivery, Joy tells Amaka that she has changed her mind.

Nigeria, 2013, color, 1hr58 min. In Ibo with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Written and Directed by : Chika Anadu

Produced by Chika anadu and Arie Esiri

starring Uche Nwadili, Ngozi Nwaneto, Nonso Odogwu, Frances Okeke.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I feel privileged to be a filmmaker. And as a filmmaker, I believe it's my duty to not only tell stories in a beautiful and entertaining way, but to also, where relevant, try to encourage debate to perhaps effect change.
"B for Baby Boy" is a contemporary drama set in Nigeria, about one woman's quest for a male child, to help keep her world intact. This is a desperate situation that too many women often find themselves in. A situation where a woman's worth is in whether she can provide the "right" type of heir (male) for her husband. This injustice is perpetuated in the names of culture, tradition and religion.
I intend to explore the irony that these injustices against women are mostly perpetuated and sustained by other women.
The antagonists in my story are the mother in-law, and society as a whole - neither of whom are monsters. They are just unquestioning followers of a system that needs to be reviewed.

Working title: "B for Baby Boy"
Director: Chika Anadu
Screenplay by: Chika Anadu
Nationality: Nigeria
Genre: Drama

Format: 35 mm
Length: 90 min.
Shooting location: Nigeria

Cast
Uche Nwadili... Amaka
Ngozi Nwaneto... Mama
Nonso Odogwu... Nonso
Frances Okeke... Joy

CONTACT
Production Company: No Blondes Productions
Email: noblondesproductions(@)gmail.com


Festival de Cannes 2011
* Cinéfondation / Résidence du Festival
www.festival-cannes.fr/assets/File/Web/BROCHURES%20RESIDENCE/chika.pdf