Life, Above All

Twelve year-old Chanda's childhood life is about to change. Unpleasant rumours begin to spread in the township that her family is cursed and that mother Lillian is to blame. Despite the best efforts of neighbour Mrs. Tafa and the more dubious intentions of an untrustworthy clinician and a local witchdoctor, Lillian becomes increasingly unwell and eventually heads off into the countryside. Along with the help of best friend Esther, a defiant and headstrong Chanda takes matters into her own hands, setting off to find Lillian and put right the wrongs set by her superstitious community. From award winning South African filmmaker Oliver Schmitz (Mapantsula, Paris, je t´aime), Life, Above All captures the enduring strength of loyalty and a courage powered by the heart, and has been heralded as a life-affirming entry into the New South African cinema canon. Based on the international best-selling novel 'Chanda's Secrets' by StrattonAllan