Life, Above All (1:46) 2010

Set in modern day South Africa, young teenager Chandra mourns the loss of her young sister due to influenza. At least, that what she has been told. Her stepfather is an alcoholic who leaves soon after the funeral. Chandra soon discovers that her mother is ill but refuses to go to the hospital. A local medicine woman urges the mother to leave the small village and return to her family home a bus ride away. Chandra is left home to take care of herself and her two younger siblings with the help of her neighbor, her mother's best friend. Chandra suspects that her mother's illness is AIDS, an illness that brings shame and isolation. Her suspicions are further heightened when her stepfather is found dead at the bottom of construction hole. In an act of bravery and love, Chandra leaves his village to find her mother and bring her home. Although I found Life, Above All a difficult film to watch at the beginning, the character of Chandra grew on me. This South African coming of age film is very powerful in dealing with the AIDS issue. In the United States, AIDS patients are given medication and treatment with confidentially highly guarded. We rarely hear of children being orphaned because they have lost both parents to the illness. This film packed quite a punch in bringing this issue to global attention.