The Carrier

Quiet, subtle but extremely affecting documentary about a farm family in Zambia (1 husband, 3 wives, many kids) where all the adults have or may have HIV.

Director Betts is smart enough to know we don't need inflated heart-tugging; the lives led by these shy, dignified, sad, frightened people, just surviving their day-by-day life has tremendous impact. Often little is said, and we just watch a face, and yet we get so much of what is happening underneath.

Beautifully photographed, the film is not only a tragic portrait of the ravages AIDS has brought to Africa, but also the male centered life style, that lets a man take many wives and still sleep around with no recrimination and the emotional as well as physical price that ends up being paid by the women.

It's frustrating that this is only available (so far) for streaming or download. There's plenty of room for extra features that would explore the making of the film, and how Ms. Betts and her crew were able to be so seemingly unobtrusive in such an intimate family setting, as well as getting further into the many cultural, gender and health issues the film raises.