Chicago – According to multiple reports from the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, Oliver Schmitz’s artfully lensed, sensitively acted film received one of the warmest receptions. Set in a modern South African village, “Life, Above All” is one of several recent pictures aiming to illustrate that an HIV-positive diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. It’s a film of grand statements delivered with quiet power.
Like Ramin Bahrani, Schmitz is extraordinarily gifted at eliciting naturalistic performances from untrained actors. At the heart of “Life” is Khomotso Manyaka, a child actress devoid of any self-conscious mannerisms to indicate that she is, in fact, acting. Manyaka’s work is beautiful, but Schmitz’s direction is the key to her success. By allowing his young star to freely inhabit her character, he avoids the usual pitfalls that occur when an overly ambitious director is paired with a blank slate. Schmitz seems to know precisely...
Like Ramin Bahrani, Schmitz is extraordinarily gifted at eliciting naturalistic performances from untrained actors. At the heart of “Life” is Khomotso Manyaka, a child actress devoid of any self-conscious mannerisms to indicate that she is, in fact, acting. Manyaka’s work is beautiful, but Schmitz’s direction is the key to her success. By allowing his young star to freely inhabit her character, he avoids the usual pitfalls that occur when an overly ambitious director is paired with a blank slate. Schmitz seems to know precisely...
- 12/14/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
New Year’s Eve - Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher
The Sitter - Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor, Sam Rockwell
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (limited) - Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy
Movie of the Week
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy
The Plot: In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley (Oldman) is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6′s echelons.
The Buzz: Great title, great cast, great premise. Sold, sold and sold. Gary Oldman is too cool for school. I can’t wait to see this one. On top of the awesomeness that is Oldman, the film also boasts a bevy of heavy hitters in Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, and Mark Strong. I enjoy all of these actors a great deal, so regarding the cast, this film looks super solid.
New Year’s Eve - Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher
The Sitter - Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor, Sam Rockwell
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (limited) - Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy
Movie of the Week
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy
The Plot: In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley (Oldman) is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6′s echelons.
The Buzz: Great title, great cast, great premise. Sold, sold and sold. Gary Oldman is too cool for school. I can’t wait to see this one. On top of the awesomeness that is Oldman, the film also boasts a bevy of heavy hitters in Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, and Mark Strong. I enjoy all of these actors a great deal, so regarding the cast, this film looks super solid.
- 12/7/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
Title: Life, Above All Director: Oliver Schmitz Starring: Khomotso Manyaka, Lerato Mvelase, Aubrey Poolo, Keaobaka Makanyane, Harriet Lenabe A debut at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and the closing night gala presentation at the recent Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Oliver Schmitz’s “Life, Above All” is a well constructed, emotionally rich, issues-oriented drama that unfolds through the perspective of a determined young South African girl. Based on Allan Stratton’s respected novel “Chanda’s Secrets”, the movie should receive modest embrace in arthouse and specialty markets drawn to foreign films, especially given the gravity and unfortunately enduring topicality of the tough circumstances with which its grown-up-too-soon protagonist grapples. In a dust-ridden village on the outskirts...
- 7/22/2011
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Title: Live, Above All Directed By: Oliver Schmitz Written By: Dennis Foon, from Allan Stratton’s novel, ‘Chandra’s Secrets’ Cast: Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane, Harriet Lenabe, Lerato Mvelase, Tinah Mnumzana Screened at: Sony, NYC, 6/23/11 Opens: July 15, 2011 Some words are more taboo than the usual four-letter designations, particularly since the movies have made the latter commonplace. Think of these terms: death, died, cancer, AIDS. More often than not, a person has not died but ‘passed away’ or ‘passed’ or ‘is with Jesus’ or ‘is an angel.’ Even worse, kids are sometimes told that their deceased father is ‘asleep.’ As for cancer, this term was verboten to a greater extent...
- 6/24/2011
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Heartbeats (15)
(Xavier Dolan, 2010, Can) Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schnieder, Anne Dorval. 101 mins.
He's young (22), talented, he directs, writes, produces and acts: don't you hate Xavier Dolan already? Those green with envy will find plenty to object to about the French-Canadian's second movie, not least the fact that it's rather good. It's a love triangle for our times: at its apex a charming Adonis who becomes the covert object of desire for two friends, a guy and a girl. Like its characters, it's not quite as sophisticated as it wants to be, but it's honest, accomplished and recklessly romantic.
The Hangover Part II (15)
(Todd Phillips, 2011, Us) Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms. 102 mins.
The location is different (Bangkok – or at least the movie version) but this sequel to the hit amnesiac prenuptial buddy comedy takes no risks with formula or cast (even Mr Chow is back). The adult humour, though,...
(Xavier Dolan, 2010, Can) Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schnieder, Anne Dorval. 101 mins.
He's young (22), talented, he directs, writes, produces and acts: don't you hate Xavier Dolan already? Those green with envy will find plenty to object to about the French-Canadian's second movie, not least the fact that it's rather good. It's a love triangle for our times: at its apex a charming Adonis who becomes the covert object of desire for two friends, a guy and a girl. Like its characters, it's not quite as sophisticated as it wants to be, but it's honest, accomplished and recklessly romantic.
The Hangover Part II (15)
(Todd Phillips, 2011, Us) Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms. 102 mins.
The location is different (Bangkok – or at least the movie version) but this sequel to the hit amnesiac prenuptial buddy comedy takes no risks with formula or cast (even Mr Chow is back). The adult humour, though,...
- 5/27/2011
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
See new Life, Above All clips; the South African drama directed by Iliver Schmitz and the countries Oscar contender for Best Foreign Language Film. We have three clips from the drama starring Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane and Lerato Mvelase. Life Above All is written by Dennis Foon based on the international award winning novel "Chanda's Secrets" by Allan Stratton. Also in Life, Above All are Tina Mnumzana, Audrey Poolo and Mapaseka Mathebe. Just after the death of her newly-born sister, Chanda, 12 years old, learns of a rumor that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg. It destroys her family and forces her mother to flee...
- 1/24/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See new Life, Above All clips; the South African drama directed by Iliver Schmitz and the countries Oscar contender for Best Foreign Language Film. We have three clips from the drama starring Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane and Lerato Mvelase. Life Above All is written by Dennis Foon based on the international award winning novel "Chanda's Secrets" by Allan Stratton. Also in Life, Above All are Tina Mnumzana, Audrey Poolo and Mapaseka Mathebe. Just after the death of her newly-born sister, Chanda, 12 years old, learns of a rumor that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg. It destroys her family and forces her mother to flee...
- 1/24/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See new Life, Above All clips; the South African drama directed by Iliver Schmitz and the countries Oscar contender for Best Foreign Language Film. We have three clips from the drama starring Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane and Lerato Mvelase. Life Above All is written by Dennis Foon based on the international award winning novel "Chanda's Secrets" by Allan Stratton. Also in Life, Above All are Tina Mnumzana, Audrey Poolo and Mapaseka Mathebe. Just after the death of her newly-born sister, Chanda, 12 years old, learns of a rumor that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg. It destroys her family and forces her mother to flee...
- 1/24/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See new Life, Above All clips; the South African drama directed by Iliver Schmitz and the countries Oscar contender for Best Foreign Language Film. We have three clips from the drama starring Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane and Lerato Mvelase. Life Above All is written by Dennis Foon based on the international award winning novel "Chanda's Secrets" by Allan Stratton. Also in Life, Above All are Tina Mnumzana, Audrey Poolo and Mapaseka Mathebe. Just after the death of her newly-born sister, Chanda, 12 years old, learns of a rumor that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg. It destroys her family and forces her mother to flee...
- 1/24/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
"35 Shots of Rum". Two couples live across the hall in the same Paris apartment building. Neither couple is "together." Gabrielle and Noe have the vibes of roommates, but the way Lionel and Josephine love one another, it's a small shock when she calls him "papa." Lionel (Alex Descas) is a train engineer. Jo (Mati Diop) works in a music store. Gabrielle (Nicole Dogue) drives her own taxi. Noe (Gregoire Colin) claims only his much-loved cat is preventing him from moving to Brazil.
The four people are in and out of both apartments so readily, we sense they're a virtual family. One night they head out together in Gabrielle's taxi for a concert. The taxi breaks down, it rains, they shelter in a Jamaican cafe, there's good music on the juke box, they dance with one another. During the dancing and kidding around, it becomes clear to them, and to us,...
The four people are in and out of both apartments so readily, we sense they're a virtual family. One night they head out together in Gabrielle's taxi for a concert. The taxi breaks down, it rains, they shelter in a Jamaican cafe, there's good music on the juke box, they dance with one another. During the dancing and kidding around, it becomes clear to them, and to us,...
- 1/2/2011
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
It would be easy to watch Life, Above All and then walk away with a smug sense of distance from the tyranny of an all consuming disease slowly but surely eating away at a community. That the community is in South Africa might make it easier for many to distance themselves further, but a very universal tale is being told here – a tale that isn’t unique to Africa.
On the surface, the elephant in the town square in this film is AIDS. I’ve not read the book, “Chanda’s Secrets,” upon which Life Above All is based, but neither HIV nor AIDS is mentioned in the synopsis of the film and not even until very late in. However, mentioning AIDS here is no great spoiler as the secrecy surrounding the cause of death of the baby at the beginning of the film, and the lives and deaths of others as the film progresses,...
On the surface, the elephant in the town square in this film is AIDS. I’ve not read the book, “Chanda’s Secrets,” upon which Life Above All is based, but neither HIV nor AIDS is mentioned in the synopsis of the film and not even until very late in. However, mentioning AIDS here is no great spoiler as the secrecy surrounding the cause of death of the baby at the beginning of the film, and the lives and deaths of others as the film progresses,...
- 10/29/2010
- by MsWOO
- ShadowAndAct
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights to Oliver Schmitz' drama " Life, Above All." The film about AIDS orphans in South Africa was produced by Dreamer Joint Venture with Enigma Pictures, Senator Film and Niama FIlm. Pic made its premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival in May. Sony Pictures Classics will handle domestic distribution itself and may set up the film for a late year release, tying it to a possible Oscar campaign. The film was adapted by Dennis Foon from the novel by Allan Stratton. Starring are Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane, Lerato Mvelase, Tina Mnumzana, Audrey Poolo and Mapaseka Mathebe.
- 6/29/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Of the 12 films I've seen at Cannes, the most warmly cheered has been the South African "Life, Above All." That's possibly more significant than in other years.
The audiences at Cannes this year have been oddly restrained, and there's less clapping at the names of directors; even Jean-Luc Godard received only perfunctory applause. Is this becoming less a directors' festival and more a trade fair?
Perhaps I leap unfairly to conclusions. Some traditions remain. Before every screening at the Auditorium Debussy, for example, someone in the dark is sure to call out "Raoul!" There's laughter and a little buzz as old-timers explain to their neighbors that once in dim antiquity a moviegoer entered after the lights went down, was unable to find his friend, and shouted out "Raoul!" The search continues.
Oliver Schmitz's "Life, Above All" has been the best heart-warmer and tear-jerker so far--and when I write from...
The audiences at Cannes this year have been oddly restrained, and there's less clapping at the names of directors; even Jean-Luc Godard received only perfunctory applause. Is this becoming less a directors' festival and more a trade fair?
Perhaps I leap unfairly to conclusions. Some traditions remain. Before every screening at the Auditorium Debussy, for example, someone in the dark is sure to call out "Raoul!" There's laughter and a little buzz as old-timers explain to their neighbors that once in dim antiquity a moviegoer entered after the lights went down, was unable to find his friend, and shouted out "Raoul!" The search continues.
Oliver Schmitz's "Life, Above All" has been the best heart-warmer and tear-jerker so far--and when I write from...
- 5/18/2010
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
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