About
Synopsis
'A Matter of Hope' is a documentary, by first-time filmmaker Harry Fear, about South Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic and the work of a Christian charity in a black township in the country’s Northern Cape province that seeks to help those afflicted by the disease.
The film documents the ‘Valley of Hope’ charity’s work, shows those that it tries to help, and describes the socioeconomic context in which it operates.
The charity’s main project is to provide so-called ‘food parcels’ to those who are worst hit by the disease and living in poverty. It also runs four community gardens that additionally allow for the provision of fresh produce to those worst affected by the epidemic.
The Valley of Hope project in South Africa was established in 2006 and is part of St. Paul’s Anglican church in the parish of Mothibistad in the Northern Cape province. St. Paul’s has a formal friendship link with the Icknield Benefice (that comprises of four parishes) in Oxfordshire, England. The Benefice in England financially supports the organisation in Mothibistad. As part of this friendship link visits are made between South Africa and England.
The film documents the ‘Valley of Hope’ charity’s work, shows those that it tries to help, and describes the socioeconomic context in which it operates.
The charity’s main project is to provide so-called ‘food parcels’ to those who are worst hit by the disease and living in poverty. It also runs four community gardens that additionally allow for the provision of fresh produce to those worst affected by the epidemic.
The Valley of Hope project in South Africa was established in 2006 and is part of St. Paul’s Anglican church in the parish of Mothibistad in the Northern Cape province. St. Paul’s has a formal friendship link with the Icknield Benefice (that comprises of four parishes) in Oxfordshire, England. The Benefice in England financially supports the organisation in Mothibistad. As part of this friendship link visits are made between South Africa and England.
Characters
The film contains seven stories of households who receive support from the charity:
- Molusi Segemontson and Kesentseng Kyobetsi who both suffer from HIV/AIDS
- A household of five youngsters who were orphaned due to the epidemic
- The Mathe family of two grandparents and several orphaned grandchildren
- Mrs Fars and her five orphaned grandchildren
- Mrs Dinkwets and Dixon who both have HIV/AIDS
- Emmanuel Agbesi – independent auditor who oversees the Valley of Hope’s work
- Christopher Evans – rector and chair of the Valley of Hope (UK) Charity that funds the project in South Africa
- Raymond Molale – churchwarden of St. Paul’s Church, Mothibistad
- Ivy Molema – secretary of the Valley of Hope Project Committee, Mothibistad
- Priscilla Molema – chair of the Valley of Hope Project Committee
- Moses Mothobi – priest of St. Paul’s Church
- Pontsho Ndhlovu – leader of St. Paul’s Church Youth
- Several other members of St. Paul’s Church Youth
- Pauline Verbe – volunteer for the Valley of Hope (UK) Charity
Details
Runtime: 70 minutes
Format: Widescreen (16:9); Colour
Language: English (partially subtitled)
Sound: Original stereo
Certificate: Exempt from classification
Genre: Documentary
DVD: PAL; region 2; release date 21/06/2010
Format: Widescreen (16:9); Colour
Language: English (partially subtitled)
Sound: Original stereo
Certificate: Exempt from classification
Genre: Documentary
DVD: PAL; region 2; release date 21/06/2010
Production history
In late 2009 the Icknield Benefice’s Valley of Hope Committee in England asked Harry Fear, an up and coming filmmaker, to make a documentary about the Valley of Hope’s work.
Harry Fear made the film voluntarily in a few hundred hours. The film was researched in February 2010 and filmed in March during a trip to South Africa. It was written and edited in April and May, and was released in mid-June.
Harry Fear made the film voluntarily in a few hundred hours. The film was researched in February 2010 and filmed in March during a trip to South Africa. It was written and edited in April and May, and was released in mid-June.
Music
The film uses three music tracks, which were kindly licensed by the respective artists or their distributors. The opening music is the track entitled ‘Sicela Indlela Fosatu’ by the Fosatu Worker Choirs of South Africa. The sounds during the brief opening titles are from the first few seconds of the track called ‘July’ by Weathertunes. The end titles’ background music is from the track ‘Blood Into Gold’ by Peter Buffett, featuring Akon.
Trailer
The 3:50 minute trailer was produced in 2017 by Mayar el-Shahat in Cairo, Egypt.
Budget
The film had a budget of nil but ended up costing about £200.
Carbon emissions
The filmmaker’s transport to and from and inside South Africa – alone – caused about 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide to be emitted into the atmosphere.
