'Life' Takes on Tough Taboos by Movie Reviewers on Creators.com

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'Life' Takes on Tough Taboos

On the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the debilitating disease AIDS, it is incomprehensible that it remains a taboo in some corners of the world. Treatment has evolved greatly over three decades, and the survival rate of HIV patients has ballooned since 1981. We know now that isn't a "gay" or a "black" or a "young" targeter; it affects everyone, and when we ignore that reality is when we truly suffer.

"Life, Above All" is a stark portrayal of the human face of AIDS in Africa. One can see that everyone involved with the project, from director Oliver Schmitz ("Paris Je T'aime") to the extremely gifted actors, gave every inch of his soul to bring the story to screen.

The tragedy is that though this is a work of fiction, the narrative is rampant across the continent. The end credits dedicate "Life, Above All" to the 800,000 children there orphaned by AIDS. Their plight is witnessed in the form of Chanda (Khomotso Manyaka, showcasing a poise beyond her 15 years), a stern youth forced to become the figurehead of her family as their bonds come undone.

The catalyst of their pain is the death of the infant Sara, and we get an abrupt introduction to Chanda as she's selecting a casket for her sister. It's devastating to watch, but Manyaka's maturity steers the scene beautifully.

However, it's the parents that react childishly to Sara's passing, especially when word zigzags around town that the baby had "the bug," as the locals disdainfully call AIDS. The father, philandering drunkard Jonah (Aubrey Poolo), goes on an infinite bender and accuses the mother, Lillian (Lerato Mvelase), of "poisoning our child with your milk." Meanwhile, two-faced neighbor Mrs.

Tafa (Harriet Manamela) spreads the word that Sara lost her life to influenza — much like her son, Emmanuel, was killed years ago in a robbery, or so she purports.

Saving face is the rule of law in this South African community. Be it the growing suspicion that Jonah and Lillian have contracted the disease, or the glaring directed at Esther (Keaobaka Makanyane, a sorrowful spitfire), the vivacious friend of Chanda's, the people suppress their own self-hate by projecting it upon the ill or outlandish. Only the churchgoers offer solace to the grieving family.

"Life, Above All" suggests that our greatest strengths are revealed in times of greatest weakness. Chanda (and, in turn, Manyaka) shines the brightest when she's imperiled. She becomes a strict but nurturing mother to her younger siblings, sassy Iris (irresistible Mapaseka Mathebe) and wide-eyed Soly (Thato Kgaladi). And like a lioness, she protects those she loves from danger and derision. When Lillian agrees to return to her tiny village because she is "cursed," Chanda travels all the way there, alone, to ensure her mom's dignity. The teen is a hero in the finest sense, standing up to bullies in the worst of circumstances.

Director Schmitz likewise treats the characters and adapted script with utmost dignity, opting for camera angles that peek through windows and straight into the hearts of Chanda and company. His approach is noninvasive, slightly curious and meticulous. Mostly, Schmitz's tact is unafraid to capture the harsh realities of AIDS — without framing the victims as though they were in a Petri dish. They're in a picture frame, hung unashamed on a wall fit for any compelling cinematic story.

"Life, Above All." Rated: PG-13. Running time: 1 hour, 46 minutes. 3.5 stars.

To find out more about Melissa Bobbitt and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.