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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 Aug 31, 2018
Mostly this is a film that seems genuine and true. Go to Full Review Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association Sep 24, 2011
3.5/4
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. Go to Full Review Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Sep 23, 2011
3.5/5
What makes it bearable but also beautiful and stirring is the central performance by the preteen, first-time actor Khomotso Manyaka. Go to Full Review Lucy Popescu CineVue Dec 14, 2018
4/5
Manyaka is enormously affecting as Chanda, stubborn, passionate, strong and fragile in equal measure. She is supported by a superb cast. Go to Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis Jan 5, 2012
8/10
Art with heart. Go to Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Nov 25, 2011
83/100
...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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Georgan G @RT98616417 Jun 13, 2024 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. See more Apr 6, 2017 Powerful film about the ravages of AIDS; young Manyaka is amazing. See more Jan 2, 2016 Should be called Love, Above All. Khomotso Manyaka is a gem. See more Nov 15, 2015 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. See more Oct 3, 2015 "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. See more Apr 27, 2015 I really want to watch this movie See more 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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