Human rights specialist turned filmmaker Shameela Seedat's documentary is a political thriller that charts the final year in office of South Africa's Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, as she attempts to bring justice to ordinary people. After successfully challenging President Zuma for illegal use of state funds, she now has to face the biggest challenge of her career: investigating – in the face of protests, death threats and legal challenges – the alleged systematic takeover of government by a private family in cahoots with the President. But how does one weigh the importance of fighting government corruption against the larger moral crime of continued inequality? Whispering Truth to Power documents the tense story of Madonsela's last year in public office while simultaneously crafting an absorbing tale of an outstanding lawyer, mother and woman, and also providing insight into several critical issues facing South Africa today.
Shameela Seedat is both a filmmaker and a human rights law specialist. She studied Law at Columbia University and her work tackles some of the globes most pressing political, societal and cultural issues.
"[A] deeply South African story, but one that feels very much in line with this current historical moment around the world—not only in Thuli’s battles against a corrupt ruling system, but in the fact that she’s fighting that battle as a black woman." - Variety