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| The Supreme Price | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joanna Lipper |
| Written by | Joanna Lipper |
| Produced by | Joanna Lipper |
| Starring | Hafsat Abiola |
| Cinematography | Richard Sands Lisa Rinzler Joanna Lipper |
| Edited by | Geoffrey Richman Tina Grapenthin Ali Muney |
| Music by | Nathan Larson |
Production companies | Vertumnus Productions Mainframe Productions |
| Distributed by | Women Make Movies (North America) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Countries | United States Nigeria |
| Language | English |
The Supreme Price is a 2014 documentary film produced and directed by Joanna Lipper. It traces the development of Nigeria's pro-democracy movement through the story of women's-rights activist Hafsat Abiola, the daughter of M. K. O. Abiola and Kudirat Abiola.[1][2][3]
The film examines the aftermath of the annulled 1993 Nigerian presidential election, which M. K. O. Abiola was widely regarded as having won. After he was arrested, Kudirat Abiola became a leader in the pro-democracy movement, organising strikes and demonstrations against military rule. She was assassinated in Lagos in 1996.[4][5] Through the history of the Abiola family, the film addresses military dictatorship, political repression, gender inequality and women's participation in Nigerian public life.[1][3]
The Supreme Price won the Gucci Tribeca Spotlighting Women Documentary Award and Best Documentary at the Africa International Film Festival. It was nominated for the Grierson Award for Best Historical Documentary and the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Documentary.[1][5]
Synopsis
[edit]The documentary places the Abiola family's story in the context of Nigeria's political history from independence through military rule and the return to civilian government. In 1993, M. K. O. Abiola was widely regarded as the winner of the presidential election, but the result was annulled before he could take office. After his arrest and imprisonment, his wife Kudirat became a prominent figure in the pro-democracy movement, organising rallies and advocating for democratic rule and human rights. She was assassinated in Lagos in 1996. M. K. O. Abiola died in detention in 1998, shortly before his expected release.[4][5][6]
The story is told from the perspective of Hafsat Abiola, who was studying at Harvard University when her mother was killed. After the deaths of both parents, she continued her activism concerning democracy, accountable government and women's participation in public life. The film follows her return to Nigeria and her efforts to challenge patriarchal political structures while carrying forward her parents' legacy.[4][5]
The documentary includes interviews with figures including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, former United States ambassadors to Nigeria Walter C. Carrington and John Campbell, and Nigerian human-rights activist Josephine Okei-Odumakin.[7][1]
Production
[edit]The Supreme Price was produced and directed by Joanna Lipper. Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani served as co-producer. The film was produced by Vertumnus Productions and co-produced by Mainframe Productions. Principal photography took place in Nigeria, including Lagos and Ogun State.[1][3]
The production received support from the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Independent Television Service (ITVS), Chicken & Egg Pictures and the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund.[5][8] Women Make Movies handled North American distribution.[1]
Release
[edit]The film screened at festivals and events including the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, AFI Docs, Raindance Film Festival, Film Africa and the Aspen Ideas Festival.[1][2][5] It was also presented as part of the United Nations' Ciné-ONU film series in Europe.[9]
An extended trailer for the film was commissioned for the launch of Gucci's Chime for Change campaign at TED 2013.[1][5]
Reception
[edit]Anita Gates of The New York Times described the documentary as an accessible family drama about Nigeria's recent history.[10] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times called it a "strong, forthright documentary" and discussed the political cost borne by the Abiola family.[7] In Variety, Ella Taylor highlighted the film's treatment of women's role in Nigerian political and social reform.[11]
The Guardian included The Supreme Price in a list of five notable political films in African cinema, describing it as an account of Nigeria's pro-democracy movement and efforts to increase women's participation in leadership.[12]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Award or festival | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund | Spotlighting Women Documentary Award | Won | [1][5] |
| Africa International Film Festival | Best Documentary | Won | [1][5] |
| Grierson Awards | Best Historical Documentary | Nominated | [1][5] |
| Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Documentary | Nominated | [1][5] |
Themes
[edit]The film explores the relationship between democracy, gender and political power in Nigeria. It examines the legacy of military dictatorship, the personal cost of political activism and the role of women in movements for democratic reform. Reviewers noted its focus on women's political leadership, particularly through Hafsat and Kudirat Abiola.[4][7][11][12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "The Supreme Price". Women Make Movies. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 "The Supreme Price". Human Rights Watch Film Festival. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "The Supreme Price". MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Orr, Gillian (2 October 2014). "Hafsat Abiola: The death of her parents and her family's battle for democracy in Nigeria laid bare in new film". The Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "The Supreme Price". Independent Television Service. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Supreme Price". Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 Turan, Kenneth (2 October 2014). "'Supreme Price' tallies the cost of seeking change in Nigeria". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "MacArthur Awards Documentary Film Grants" (Press release). MacArthur Foundation. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Supreme Price". United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ Gates, Anita (2 October 2014). "'The Supreme Price' Is a Door to Africa's Recent History". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 Taylor, Ella (6 October 2014). "Film Review: 'The Supreme Price'". Variety. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 Taylor, Magnus (28 October 2014). "African cinema: the five best political films". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
External links
[edit]- The Supreme Price at IMDb
- The Supreme Price at Women Make Movies