South Africa/Germany
2010/35mm/100 minutes
SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 6.15 PM – BUY!
THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2.15 PM – BUY!
South Africa’s entry to the Academy Awards, this moving drama follows a 12-year-old girl battling to save her family and best friend from prejudice.
Chanda is a resilient young girl who lives in a shabby township outside Johannesburg. When her newborn sister dies and her mother sinks into depression, Chanda starts to take control of her family’s survival, facing the future with an unnerving dry-eyed stoicism. Set against the backdrop of an AIDS-ravaged community, director Oliver Schmitz creates a moving character-driven story that exposes many of the taboos of a community poisoned by gossip and ignorance. And, despite the weighty subject matter, the film is propelled by a positive force – mainly due to the remarkable performances of its two young leading actors.
Screenings at Cannes, Toronto, Sydney, Pusan, Glasgow Film Festival
Best Film – Dubai International Film Festival; 7 awards (including Best Film) at the South African Film Awards
“tells a tale of resilience without platitudes about the triumph of the human spirit ” Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
“The film is about deep human emotions, evoked with sympathy and love.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Writer Dennis Foon Director Oliver Schmitz Producer Oliver Stoltz
Cast Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane, Lerato Mvelase
Print Source Madman Entertainment
