The Secret Laughter of Women

1h 39m 1998

Brief Synopsis

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A beautiful young single mother, Nimi, feels the pressure from the expatriate Nigerian community in which she lives to get married. Coincidentally, her precocious young son has just met his hero, an cynical English comic book writer, and decides that he is the perfect match for his beloved mother. T

Cast & Crew

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Peter Schwabach

Director

Colin Firth

Matthew Field

Nia Long

Nimi Da Silva 'Big Eyes'

Dan Lett

John

Joke Silva

Nene

Ariyon Bakare

Reverend Fola

Film Details

Also Known As
Secret Laughter of Women
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Release Date
1998
Production Company
Arts Council Of England National Lottery; Arts Council of England; Bskyb; Canadian Film Or Video Production Tax Credit; Deluxe Entertainment Services Group; European Script Fund; Film Effects Inc.; Kew Media Group
Distribution Company
Lev Films; Mdp Worldwide Entertainment; Mdp Worldwide Entertainment; Paradise; Studiocanal UK; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
Location
Southern France; London, England, United Kingdom

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 39m

Synopsis

A beautiful young single mother, Nimi, feels the pressure from the expatriate Nigerian community in which she lives to get married. Coincidentally, her precocious young son has just met his hero, an cynical English comic book writer, and decides that he is the perfect match for his beloved mother. The couple is drawn together by their differences and their love is tested by the resistance they get from the community.

Director

Peter Schwabach

Director

Cast

Colin Firth

Matthew Field

Nia Long

Nimi Da Silva 'Big Eyes'

Dan Lett

John

Joke Silva

Nene

Ariyon Bakare

Reverend Fola

Joy Elias Rilwan

Mama Fola

Hakim Kae-kazim

Dr Ade

Bella Enahoro

Madame Rosa

Oluwafisayo Roberts

Sammy Da Silva

Rakie Ayola

Talking Drum

Caroline Goodall

Jenny Field

Ellen Thomas

Bitter Leaf

Thomas Baptiste

Papa Fola

Willie Jonah

Old Uncle

Ho Yi

Chen

Kemi Baruwa

Sugar

Mike Koohefkan

Jean-Claude Delgado

Nicole Blanchet

Mrs Delgado

Maddalena Milani

Inez

Catherine Koohefkan

Teacher

Frank Bellorti

Frederic

Hakeem Kae-kazim

Crew

Cordelia Anosike

Wardrobe Consultant (Nigeria)

Christopher J Bradshaw

Production Designer

Fred Brennan

Supervising Sound Editor

Terry Burke

Foley Artist

Ben Burt

3rd Assistant Director

Michael David

Editor

Patricia Douglas

Other

Michael Dreyer

Line Producer

Ann Edwards

Script Supervisor

Annie Edwards

Script Supervisor

Keith Elliott

Re-Recording Mixer

Susan Forrest

Casting (Canada)

Suzy Freeman

Costume Supervisor

Martin Fuhrer

Director Of Photography

Alan Gledart

Sound Effects Editor

Jim Greenhorn

Sound Mixer

Liz Griffiths

Set Decorator

Stevie Hall

Make-Up & Hair Designer

Sallie Hard

2nd Assistant Director

Dan Hubbard

Casting

John Hubbard

Casting

Douglas Ingram

Story Board Artist

Gareth Jones

Executive Producer

Peter Kelly

Re-Recording Mixer

Vladimir Kostovic

Art Director (French Crew)

Yves Laferriere

Music

John Laing

Adr Editor

Michel Lesaint

Garden Advisor (French Crew)

Graham Longhurst

Special Effects Supervisor

Michael Macdonald

Line Producer

Jean-pierre Millas

Unit Manager (French Crew)

Mike Miller

Camera Operator

Sara Morris

Production Coordinator

Simon Moseley

1st Assistant Director

Gilles Normandin

Production Manager (French Crew)

Nick O'hagan

Production Supervisor

Patrick O'hanian

Location Manager (French Crew)

Charlene Olson

Post-Production Supervisor

Luc Papineau

Music Recording Engineer

Tristian Peatfield

Art Director

Daniel Pellerin

Re-Recording Mixer

Dee Poku

Unit Publicist

Dee Poku

Publicist (Cowan Symes & Associates)

Jacques Renoir

Director Of Photography (2nd Unit)

Jan Roldanus

Executive In Charge Of Production

Orighomisan O Sagay

Screenwriter

Orighomisan O Sagay

Producer

Mark Silk

Underwater Director Of Photography

Jon Slan

Producer

Ben Smith-scandrett

Other

Amanda Stevens

Location Manager

Louise Stjernsward

Costume Designer

Phil Stoole

Assistant Director

Alan Stuart

Stunt Coordinator

Rebecca Sutton

Assistant Director

Mark Walker

Other

Mark Walker

Other

Petrona Winton

Makeup Artist

Film Details

Also Known As
Secret Laughter of Women
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Release Date
1998
Production Company
Arts Council Of England National Lottery; Arts Council of England; Bskyb; Canadian Film Or Video Production Tax Credit; Deluxe Entertainment Services Group; European Script Fund; Film Effects Inc.; Kew Media Group
Distribution Company
Lev Films; Mdp Worldwide Entertainment; Mdp Worldwide Entertainment; Paradise; Studiocanal UK; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
Location
Southern France; London, England, United Kingdom

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 39m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States August 1998

Released in United States November 1999

Shown at Martha's Flavor Fest in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts August 19-21, 1998.

Shown at London Film Festival November 3-18, 1999.

Feature directorial debut for Peter Schwabach.

Screenwriting debut for former pediatrician O.O. Sagay.

Began shooting September 15, 1997.

Completed shooting November 4, 1997.

Released in United States August 1998 (Shown at Martha's Flavor Fest in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts August 19-21, 1998.)

Released in United States November 1999 (Shown at London Film Festival November 3-18, 1999.)

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