Movie
Life, Above All
Drama film with a runtime of 106 minutes, released in 2010. Presented in English.
At a Glance
Synopsis
A child tries to hold her family together against prejudice, disease, and ignorance in this drama from South Africa. Chanda (Khomotso Manyaka) is only 12 years old, but she's already been forced to take on many of the responsibilities of an adult in her household. Chanda's father is gone, her stepfather, Jonah (Aubrey Poolo), is an irresponsible alcoholic, and her mother, Lillian (Lerato Mvelase), has been physically and emotionally devastated by AIDS and the death of her youngest child. Despite Chanda's dire circumstances, most of her neighbors offer little sympathy, believing her mother's illness is the result of divine judgment against her, and her reputation isn't helped by the fact that one of her few loyal friends is Esther (Keaobaka Makanyane), a sharp-tongued prostitute. Mrs. Tafa (Harriet Manamela), an elderly member of the village, believes she can help Chandra by moving her mother out of the community, but the girl knows she needs her mother no matter how ill she may be, and sets out to find her and bring her back home. Adapted from a novel by Allan Stratton, Life, Above All was an official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
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Cast
- Khomotso Manyaka
- Keaobaka Makanyane
- Harriet Manamela
- Lerato Mvelase
- Tinah Mnumzana
- Aubrey Poolo
- Mapaseka Mathebe
- Thato Kgaladi
- Kgomoto Ditshwene
- Rami Cuene
- Jerry Marobyane
- Thsepo Emmanuel Nonyane
- Johanna Refilwe Sihlangu
- Vsui Muzi Given Nyathi
- Patrick Shai
- Nelson Motloung
- Ernest Mokoena
- Mary Twala
- Themba Ndaba
- Samuel Masilela
- Charlotte Mphake
- Bhekifa Isaac Nyathi
- Sarah Aphane
- Foxy Riet
- Solly Moeng
- Mongezi Manqina
- Oupa Mashiloane
- Xolile Gama
- Martha Maphaka
- Alain Morel
- Alphinah Matsepe
- Nomusa Tshanagana
- Gontse Masilela
- Daniela Ramin
- Thomas Reisser
- Moonyeenn Lee
- Jörg Hohne
- Christiane Roth
- Tracey Perkins
- Helga Sasse
- Oliver Schmitz
- Bernhard Jasper
- Dan Schlanger
- Allan Stratton
- Dirk Grau
- Ivan Milborrow
- Dennis Foon
- Nadia Kruger
- Jorg Hohne
- Martin Hamer
