Ruined

“I don’t know. They look used. Worn.” 

When Christian arrives to Mama Nadi’s bar with supplies, he brings with him two women named Salima and Sophie, in the hopes that Mama Nadi will take them into her care andemploy them. Here, Mama Nadi’s comments describe Salima and Sophie in the moments before the audience finds out that she is describing two women. Mama Nadi’s comments emphasize the notion of women as a commodity or as objects to be bought and sold. 

“Yes, you’re very pretty. I can see how that caused you problems. Do you know what kind of place this is?”

Mama Nadi speaks to Sophie directly after learning that Sophie has been brutally sexually abused, to the point where she is unable to work for Mama Nadi as a prostitute. Mama Nadi reminds Sophie of the nature of the bar, preparing Sophie for interactions she may have to have with men who will likely find her attractive.

“This is a nice place for a drink. Yeah? I don’t abide by bush laws. If you want to drink like a man, you drink like a man. You want to behave like gorilla, then go back into the bush.” 

In an attempt to set boundaries, Mama Nadi admonishes a rebel soldier who is acting aggressively in her bar, reminding him that his hypermasculine behavior is not welcome. She compares him to an ape, insulting him in a show of authority as the proprietor of the bar.