"Strength from Remembering"
The Film/ DVD "Strength from Remembering. Memory Work with people affected with HIV/AIDS in South Africa" documents different forms of memory work developed to support children, women and men affected by AIDS. It describes the lives of Babalwa (29) and Bulelwa (36), two women who live separated from their families in the township of Kayelitsha in South Africa. The diagnosis of "HIV-positive" was a drastic turning point in their lives. Memory work and treatment with antiretroviral drugs have helped them find new strength to go on living.
Using expressive and sensitive images, the film conveys a range of memory work methods and their local variants. The images are intended by René Schraner and Eva Hänger as visible parallels to the methods of memory work. And provides a space for people to experess themselves:
"I think, memory work made me strong, because before I joined, I was not free to talk about my status. (Bulelwa Nowke, 36)
When I remember my mother I open the box. And Im sad because my mother died and happy because I have her things. (Mawahkhe, 11 years)
Camera: René Schraner Sound: Eva Hänger Music: Lukas Rohner In close collaboration with the Working Group "Children affected by HIV/AIDS" of aidsfocus.ch
A DVD à Fr. 40.- contains two versions of the film: Strength from Remembering - Memory Work with people affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. 50 minutes, English spoken Strength from Remembering Three approaches of Memory Work: Memory Boxes, Memory Books and Body Maps. 15 minutes, English spoken
The DVD is available from:
aidsfocus.ch c/o Medicus Mundi Switzerland Murbacherstrasse 34 P.O. Box 4013 Basel
info@aidsfocus.ch