The Iron Ladies of Liberia (2007) is an independently produced documentary film that gives behind-the-scenes access to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's first year in government.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance are the then first lady of the USA Laura Bush, secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and South African president Thabo Mbeki.
Momentarily archive footage is shown of events in Liberia during the 14 year civil war—scenes of public executions, child soldiers and maimed victims–scenes reoccurring briefly throughout the documentary.
Johnson-Sirleaf discloses the disadvantaged position of Liberia, having inherited weak institutions as a result of the civil war for instance; the ministry of finance is systematically corrupt and only has a very small budget, and the police lack basic resources such as weapons.
Back in Liberia Johnson-Sirleaf personally responds to angry mobs of workers and reformed soldiers, including Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers who were forced out of work due to the peace agreement, demanding higher salaries and pensions respectively by speaking candidly on the government’s limitations, instead of making the typical empty political promises.
Although Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf has since apologized for her “misjudgment” and said that “when the true nature of Mr. Taylor’s intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process”.
The bloody conflict raged until 1996, when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) brokered a peace accord and set elections for 1997.
While the filmmaker, an acknowledged acquaintance of the president, essentially plays observer for Sirleaf Johnson's first year of leadership, what it lacks is a more holistic look at Sirleaf Johnson and the nation she's leading.”[7] Angus Wolfe Murray of Eye for Film offers a review with different point of view: It’s OK that it doesn’t cover all the problems, because it shows the ones Ellen has to deal with: endemic corruption, a demobilized army on strike, chaos and disorder in the streets, the manipulations of the old political elite, still hanging on to power with their embezzled riches.
[9] Nneameka names this specific form of feminism as “nego-feminism” where the prefix, nego, signifies negotiation and the elimination of unyielding self-righteousness, or “no ego.” In this respect, this feminist engagement is deeply rooted in humility without seeming docile.
[10] Film critic Astride Charles commends the documentary for “rejuvenat[ing the] discussion about international monetary policy and the way in which Africa’s societal and economic problems are framed.