IMDb > Life, Above All (2010)
Le secret de Chanda
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Life, Above All (2010) More at IMDbPro »Le secret de Chanda (original title)

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   1,093 votes »
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Popularity: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Oliver Schmitz
Writers:
Oliver Schmitz
Dennis Foon (screenplay)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Life, Above All on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 May 2011 (Germany) See more »
Genre:
Drama See more »
Plot:
A touching mother-daughter relationship that reflects the modern South Africa. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
6 wins & 6 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Nine International Movies Compete for Best Foreign Language Oscar
 (From MovieWeb. 19 January 2011, 2:27 PM, PST)
'Life, Above All' is S. Africa's Oscar bid
 (From The Hollywood Reporter. 10 September 2010, 5:00 AM, PDT)
Cannes Festival Film 'Life, Above All' Acquired By Sony Pictures Classics
 (From Deadline. 28 June 2010, 8:13 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
"Dramatic, humane and memorable..." See more (9 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order)
Khomotso Manyaka ... Chanda
Keaobaka Makanyane ... Esther
Harriet Lenabe ... Mrs. Tafa (as Harriet Manamela)
Lerato Mvelase ... Lillian
Tinah Mnumzana ... Aunt Lizbet
Aubrey Poolo ... Jonah
Mapaseka Mathebe ... Iris
Thato Kgaladi ... Soly
Kgomotso Ditshweni ... Dudu
Rami Chuene ... Aunty Ruth
Jerry Marobyane ... Mr. Pheto
Tshepo Emmanuel Nonyane ... Mr. Lesole
Johanna Refilwe Sihlangu ... Mrs. Lesole
Vusi Muzi Given Nyathi ... Mr. Nylo
Patrick Shai ... Dr. Charles Chilume
Nelson Motloung ... Mr. Chauke
Ernest Mokoena ... Sipho Mandla
Mary Twala ... Mrs. Gulubane
Themba Ndaba ... Mr. Selalame
Samuel Masilela ... Young man
Charlotte Mphake ... Hooker
Bhekifa Isaac Nyathi ... Aunty Ruth's boyfriend
Sarah Alphane ... Receptionist
Foxy Riet ... Nurse Nkosi
Solly Moeng ... Police officer
Mongezi Motaung ... Jacob
Oupa Mashiloane ... Fireman
Xolile Gama ... Mr. Kamwendo
Martha Maphaka ... Granny Thela
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Felix Daub ... Police officer (voice)
Alain Morel ... Hector

Directed by
Oliver Schmitz 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Dennis Foon  screenplay
Oliver Schmitz 
Allan Stratton  novel "Chanda's Secrets"

Produced by
Greig Buckle .... co-producer
Martin Hämer .... line producer
Daniela Ramin .... associate producer
Thomas Reisser .... co-producer
Helge Sasse .... executive producer
Dan Schlanger .... co-producer
Oliver Stoltz .... producer
 
Original Music by
Ali N. Askin 
Ian Osrin 
 
Cinematography by
Bernhard Jasper 
 
Film Editing by
Dirk Grau 
 
Casting by
Moonyeenn Lee 
 
Art Direction by
Tracy Perkins 
Christiane Rothe 
 
Set Decoration by
Jean-Jacques Chaboissier 
Nazo Maloy  (as Nazo Maloyi)
Aime Motomola 
 
Costume Design by
Nadia Kruger 
 
Makeup Department
Natasha du Toit .... make-up and hair assistant
Raine Edwards .... key makeup & hair artist
Thembi Mkhaliphi .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Precious Mkhwanazi .... production secretary
Donovan Roberts-Baxter .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cathy Poole .... first assistant director
Emile Smith .... second assistant director
 
Sound Department
Warren Burley .... adr recordist: South Africa
Markus Glunz .... foley editor
Jörg Höhne .... sound re-recording mixer
Ivan Milborrow .... sound mixer
Sebastian Morsch .... supervising sound editor
Mkululi 'Zozo' Nomkuca .... boom operator
Günther Röhn .... foley artist
Sven Serfling .... dialogue editor
Robert Wolff .... audio post production coordinator
 
Special Effects by
Gerhard van der Heever .... special effects coordinator
Janek Zabielski .... special effects coordinator
 
Visual Effects by
Sven Heck .... DI online & finishing
Lola Knoblach .... assistant colorist
Frieda Oberlin .... digital intermediate supervisor
Philipp Orgassa .... digital intermediate colorist
Lisa Riemer .... digital intermediate coordinator
Thomas Schernikau .... system administrator
Christian Tröger .... DI online & finishing
 
Stunts
Barry Ingle .... stunt driver
Mick 'Stuntie' Milligan .... stunt coordinator
Mick 'Stuntie' Milligan .... stunt driver
Antony Stone .... stunt coordinator
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Hellwig .... digital imaging technician
Richard Muller .... digital imaging technician assistant
 
Casting Department
Belinda Kruger .... casting associate
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mafika Masombuka .... wardrobe assistant
 
Editorial Department
Erik Dornblut .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Ali N. Askin .... musician
Jo Gehlmann .... musician
Stefan Ziethen .... music supervisor
 
Transportation Department
Mandla Dlamini .... driver
Mandla Khanyeza .... driver
Ntsane Koenane .... driver
Dumisani Masombuka .... driver
Kingston Mokgethi .... driver
Morris Mphohoni .... driver
Archibald Nkwana .... transportation captain
Thulani Qutshwa .... driver
Sam Radebe .... driver
Danny Rakosa .... driver
Owen Temba .... driver
 
Other crew
Wekas Gaba .... post production coordinator
Eduard Klarenbeek .... location manager
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies

Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Le secret de Chanda" - South Africa (original title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and some sexual content
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
100 min | 105 min
Country:
South Africa | Germany
Language:
Sotho | Sotho
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #46412)
Filming Locations:
Elandsdoorn, Limpopo, South AfricaSee more »
Company:
Dreamer Joint Venture FilmproductionSee more »

Did You Know?

Movie Connections:
Featured in "Maltin on Movies: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (#1.42)" (2011)See more »

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful.
"Dramatic, humane and memorable...", 6 February 2013
Author: Sindre Kaspersen from Norway

South African screenwriter and director Oliver Schmitz' fourth feature film which he co-wrote with Canadian playwright and author Allan Stratton and American author and playwright Dennis Foon, is an adaptation of a novel called "Chanda's Secrets" from 2004 by Allan Stratton. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival in 2010, was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival in 2010, was shot on location in the province of Mpumalanga in South Africa and is a South Africa-Germany co-production which was produced by German producer Oliver Stoltz. It tells the story about Chanda who lives in a South African village with her mother Lillian and her half siblings Iris and Soly.

Precisely and engagingly directed by South African filmmaker Oliver Schmitz, this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated mostly from the main character's point of view, draws a moving and heartrending portrayal of a mother who does everything she can to shield her children from the judgment of her fellow citizens after losing her daughter and an adolescent student who whilst in the midst of her education strives to come to her mother's aid and understand why people are damning her. While notable for it's naturalistic milieu depictions, fine cinematography by cinematographer Bernhard Jasper, costume design by costume designer Nadia Kruger and use of music, this character-driven story depicts an empathic study of character.

This conversational and somewhat political drama which is set in the South African township of Elandsdoorn and which examines themes like family relations, friendship, Aids and survival, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, substantial character development, interrelated stories and the commendable and involving acting performances by actresses Khomotso Monyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane, Harriet Manameta, Lerato Mvelase and Mapaseka Mathebe. A dramatic, humane and memorable coming-of-age tale.

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