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Life, Above All

Play trailer Poster for Life, Above All PG-13 2011 1h 42m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A 12-year-old girl (Khomotso Manyaka) fights prejudice when her family is ostracized by a South African community.
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Life, Above All

Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator Mostly this is a film that seems genuine and true. Aug 31, 2018 Full Review Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association The film plays out like a modern allegory with strong life lessons. This an emotionally satisfying and cleansing first-hand experience about that scourge called AIDS. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 24, 2011 Full Review Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle What makes it bearable but also beautiful and stirring is the central performance by the preteen, first-time actor Khomotso Manyaka. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 23, 2011 Full Review Lucy Popescu CineVue Manyaka is enormously affecting as Chanda, stubborn, passionate, strong and fragile in equal measure. She is supported by a superb cast. Rated: 4/5 Dec 14, 2018 Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis Art with heart. Rated: 8/10 Jan 5, 2012 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ...there's an undeniable fierceness and intelligence in Manyaka's lead performance. She's far from a polished actor, but there's real steel there. Rated: 83/100 Nov 25, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Georgan G Poverty, disease and shame wrap this true life drama in real emotion. Love how honestly this story was told, despite the sadness it portrayed. It did end on a positive note, thankfully. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review Audience Member Powerful film about the ravages of AIDS; young Manyaka is amazing. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Should be called Love, Above All. Khomotso Manyaka is a gem. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member The contrast of AIDS-related films from the U.S. and Africa is stark. Because of the epidemic in South Africa, the fear of and animosity toward those infected creates dire living conditions and outright ostracism. This film provides a glimmer of hope through education, compassion and sheer will. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member "Life above all" gives us a vision what is living with AIDS in the rural area of South Africa where there is myths and discrimination about the diseaseand the peole who suffers it. The film is spoken in Northern Sotho, that gives a special feeling of more autenticity. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member I really want to watch this movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Life, Above All

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Cast & Crew

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Oliver Schmitz

Director

Khomotso Manyaka

Chanda

Keaobaka Makanyane

Esther

Lerato Mvelase

Lillian

Harriet Lenabe

Mrs. Tafa

Tinah Mnumzana

Aunt Lizbet

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Life, Above All

(L-R) Harriet Manamela as Mrs. Tafa and Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda in "Life, Above All." (L-R) Mary Twala as Mrs. Gulubane, Mapaseka Mathebe as Iris, Thato Kgaladi as Soly, Harriet Manamela as Mrs. Tafa, Lerato Mvelase as Lilian and Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda in "Life, Above All." Aubrey Poolo as Jonah in "Life, Above All." (L-R) Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda and Lerato Mvelase as Lilian in "Life, Above All." Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda in "Life, Above All." Mandla Ernest Mokoena as Sipho and Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda in "Life, Above All." (L-R) Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda and Lerato Mvelase as Lilian in "Life, Above All." Harriet Manamela as Mrs. Tafa in "Life, Above All." (L-R) Keaobaka Makanyane as Esther and Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda in "Life, Above All." Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda in "Life, Above All." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A 12-year-old girl (Khomotso Manyaka) fights prejudice when her family is ostracized by a South African community.
Director
Oliver Schmitz
Screenwriter
Dennis Foon
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Enigma, Senator Film Produktion GmbH
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Mature Thematic Material)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 15, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$134.1K
Runtime
1h 42m
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