In the dusty small town of Elandsdoorn, a South African township not far from Johannesburg, life seems simple and serene. 12-year-old Chanda is a promising young student. But her life, and that of her family, changes dramatically when her infant sister unexpectedly dies.
CLASSIC CINEMA SECTION
Life, Above All
Classics O’Clock VII, Saturday March 4, 20:30
English title:
Life, Above All
Original title:
Le secret de Chanda
Director:
Oliver Schmitz
Country:
Germany, South Africa
Genre:
drama
Year:
2010
Length:
100‘
Cast:
Khomotso Manyaka, Harriet Lenabe, Keaobaka Makanyane
A quote for the film:
You’ll be sorry when he comes home.
Selective list of festivals and awards:
Cannes Film Festival 2010 (François Chalais Award, Un Certain Regard nominee), Dubai International Film Festival 2011 (Winner Muhr AsiaAfrica Special Jury Prize)
Director’s bio:
Oliver Schmitz is an award-winning South African director, originally from Cape Town, with a background in fine art and music. He co-ran a nightclub that defied Apartheid segregation laws and nurtured creative and militant youth. Schmitz has made five cinema movies, four of which have screened in official selection in Cannes. He has also had an active television career, directing award-winning shows such as Türkisch für Anfänger und Doctor's Diary. Schmitz lives in Berlin with his family. His film Life Above All has been shortlisted for "Best Foreign Film" at the Academy Awards, and his 1980s gangster drama Mapantsula has become a classic and is taught in film studies at many universities.
