Home Media Magazine - January 6-12, 2008 - (Page 22) REVIEWS www.homemediamagazine.com I ANGELS IN THE DUST Prebook 1/8; Street 2/19 Cinema Libre, Documentary, B.O. $0.01 million, $24.95 DVD, NR. F ilms such as Angels in the Dust can make almost any viewer feel lucky. They bring us into a world of poverty and brutality that most can’t imagine, and somehow find hope in the ashes. South African doctor Marion Cloete packed up her family, left their ostentatious Johannesburg suburb and moved an hour north to work with children left orphaned by AIDS. Early on we learn the harshest tragedy here: Many of the children are raped, and many are infected because of a widely held rumor that sleeping with a virgin will cure HIV. Some parents pimp their children out. Children in rural areas are left orphaned by the thousands as their parents succumb to the disease. Botshabelo, the 37-acre compound the Cloetes built, is more than just a school. It’s a refuge where children can leave the re- alities of their world behind and try to build futures. It’s estimated that half the population of their three villages is HIV-positive. Marion Cloete’s compassion is immediately apparent, and as the film progresses we see its transformative power. She goes into the countryside and beats the bushes for children who need safety, then does all she can to free them from their home lives by taking them to the school. There they get food, shelter, clothing, treatment and the safest environment many have ever known. The residents help each other deal with the ravages of disease and poverty. Children make friends and raise each other because there’s a desperate shortage of adults to do it. The agonizing truth makes it much richer when we see these shattered children come to life, learning to sing and dance and find joy where it seems impossible. Angels in the Dust is informational, but also uplifting as it demonstrates the power of determination and hope. – Holly J. Wagner I THE SWINGSET MAMAS: SWING, DANCE AND SING targets the 3-8 age set. Fifteen songs clock in at 49 minutes, and it’s doubtStreet 1/8 ful that toddlers and younger elemenTimeless, Childrens, $12.98 DVD, NR. tary-age children will rest for a moStars Marlowe Bechmann, Lizzie Swan. ment while watching, dancing to and singing along with the DVD. he SwingThe DVD is full of set Mamas simple and clever — Lizzie animations, as well as Swan and Marlowe scenery and wardrobe Bechmann — met changes as the Swingeach other at a beach set Mamas switch it bonfire and guitar up for each song. A talsing-along. This hapented group of photopenstance meeting genic kids accompany set the pace for their the videos, but approfuture collaboration priately, aren’t perfect as creators of sweet, dancers — if one of laid-back children’s these kids needs to music. break away from the choreography This first DVD collection features and get their dance on, they do. songs mostly from their second alAs for the music itself, the Swingbum, Dance Around the House, which set Mamas have clear voices that T harmonize beautifully. This is the type of kids’ music that will inspire parents to hum along, rather than cringe, hoping for the day their tot turns to another musical obsession. The tunes, which are both instructional and silly, are lightly flavored by everything from calypso, hip-hop and 1960s pop to zydeco, blues and hula, and often feature call-and-response words and simple choreography that’ll keep kids busy while watching the DVD. The DVD allows children to navigate easily to their favorite songs, and extras include a making-of, a live video and a free five-song CD sampler. For parents who want simple music that’ll provide easy fun lessons for their kids and a beat to dance along with, Swing, Dance and Sing would be a good choice. – Laura Tiffany 22 Home Media Magazine January 6–12, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.strandreleasing.com http://www.strandreleasing.com
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