Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.
ianfield2002 If there is one Documentary that everyone should have, let it be this one. I have seen this documentary several times on HBO and I was moved to tears. It is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. You can't help it to feel with those kids in Agape and it makes you angry because you can't do nothing about it. AIDS is no longer a big topic in our modern society, but in Africa it is a sad part of life. And the film brings this across in a very powerful and heart breaking way. Great job to the director!!! If you want to see it, buy the DVD and the CD with the wonderful songs of the children. This way you will also support them because the money of the sales go to the kids in Agape. A must see!!!!!!!
mamabear110 I view this documentary on HBO this past week and thought it excellent. So much so that I have bought not only the DVD but the CD as well. I was particularly moved by this film because I am on the Board of Directors of a grassroots organization called Our Journey, Inc. that works in the same South African province where Agape is located. In fact, our founder/directors has visited Agape. The only thing missing from the film was the fact that the children in the orphanage are the lucky ones!!! Our organization works to provide basic needs of children without any family or community support. Some children as young as seven years of age are the head of the household. If there is an adult it is usually a grandmother (called gogos) who is looking after grandchildren and great grandchildren because the young adults have died of AIDS.Please tell everyone you know about this film. The world needs to know about them and their great needs. Teddie Martin, Board of Directors our journey inc.org
Chrisgb-91 The documentary has everything you want from a film which depicts and fantastically displays the culture of another collection of people from the globe. This collection being an orphanage in South Africa named 'Agape' in which children who have lost their parents go to stay and are looked after. The documentary follows the espionage as their truly mesmerising and powerful singing leads them into a whole new world which can open up doors for themselves back home and for many future South African's around their area. It also focuses on a large family who have lost their parents in which there is now a divide (The elder family members staying at the family home and the younger members staying at Agape because of the lack of finance to take care of them). The scenes where the family are together and participating in family banter and activities is really nice to watch...real people...living real lives but with many more obstructions and difficulties in their lives than many of us are fortunate not to experience. The affection and warmth and love within the family is just simply lovely to watch and is captured so well by the film. It also follows a plot in which the Agape espionage is trying to raise money for more funds to expand etc. and after a trip to England was cancelled plus other factors make it extremely hard for them to follow their dream. Will they reach it? If you haven't seen it then watch and find out.The music and singing seen in the documentary again is captured brilliantly...really showing and emphasising to the audience just how important music is to these children and their culture. It helps them in every aspect of life and you really do understand and appreciate how the music and singing has had a massive impact on their lives. The film also covers more harrowing subjects such as the effect of HIV on the family. Sifiso the big brother of the family being diagnosed which leads obviously to some really emotional scenes of pain and sorrow and hits you hard as to the fact that HIV is at large in these areas and the emotional challenges it unfortunately sets upon the family. Normally all we see about HIV is statistics and figures but this film helps us connect with the people, connect with the family during their time of bereavement and really get across the emotional and painful side to HIV rather than numbers. It follows a truly great story with harsh realities of life a massive part and also involving so many wonderful kids who have some great personalities and great voices who have a dream to make their lives better and many more generations to come better by doing what they do best...sing. Emotional, touching, funny, hard-hitting, family, lovely...a great piece from the upcoming filmmaker Paul Taylor. Great documentary following a great story.
horriblywrong I used to volunteer at Agape orphanage and this is a great and honest portrayal on life for these kids, with Zodwa. It is so good to see honest film making and not a generic copy of what the people will be more affected by. Myself and a lot of other people I know that worked at Agape were very scared about the outcome of this documentary, whether It would simply be used as a PR tool, or whether It would show the sadness and the joy in these children, the fears and the courage, the weakness and the strength. Whether It would Really show what these kids are like ????? But all my fears were put to rest !! I feel privileged to know these children that have been through so much. And I strongly recommend that you watch this movie - As its the most honest thing I have ever seen. Sometimes hard to watch - but unbelievably inspiring !! But as Ghandi once said "dont expect the world to change...simply BE the change you want to see in the world!"
