Le secret de Chanda (2010)
The South African/German film Le secret de Chanda was shown in the U.S. with the title, Life, Above All (2010). It was co-written and directed by Oliver Schmitz.
The movie stars Khomotso Manyaka as Chanda, a young woman trying to hold her own in a South African township. Her father is dead, her stepfather is feckless, her mother is sick, and she has two half-siblings about whom she worries.
Manyaka is a brilliant actor. Without a superb performance from her, the film could not have been so successful. Her role--and her skill--reminded me of Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone. She's beset on all sides, but she refuses to give up.
Many of Chanda's problems arise from the fact that saving face is more important than almost anything else.
We saw this movie at Rochester's wonderful Dryden Theatre in the George Eastman Museum. It will work well on the small screen as well. It's a great
movie-don't miss it!
