This South African story received an ovation from those who attended its premier screening at Cannes earlier this week.
Congratulations to all involved in the making of the fim Life Above All, which was warmly received at Cannes Film Festival where it premiered on Tuesday this week.
The movie is centred around a 12 year old girl who must draw on internal resources of courage and strength when she needs to look after her family following her mother's contracting HIV and leaves the village. This is made all the harder due to the fears and prejudices of the community in which they live.
The audience gave a 10 minute standing ovation at the end of the screening.
Life Above All is based on an award winning novel by Canadian Allan Stratton, Chanda's Secret. It was filmed in the small SA town of Elandsdoorn and directed by South African born Oliver Schmitz.
The three South African women who starred in the roles of the young girl, Chandra, her mother and another character Mrs Tafa, are 13-year-old Khomotso Manyaka, Lerato Mvelase and Harriet Manamela respectively.
Speaking to the press, Ms Manyaka said that working on her first movie taught her “everything, like not to keep secrets, you have to speak loudly and you have to for what is going through your life,”
