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The headlines constantly
scream about a world where
it is the norm to take from
those who have. Why buy a
car when you can take one
from someone who has
worked hard to afford one?
Why pay for jewelry when
you can just snatch it off
someone’s neck or wrist?
We live in a world of
givers and takers. Sarah
English-Freddie knows well
about this subject. As
president and CEO of LFG
Group, the entrepreneur
recently described a good
leader as someone who is a
“giver.” She could have been
describing Marion Cloete,
who is one of the central
figures of Angels in the Dust,
a documentary opening at
the Angelika Theater in
Dallas on Friday.
Angels in the Dust opens
showing the elephant
culture; how in South Africa
a government practice has
left many elephants
orphaned. Unfortunately
another practice in South
Africa, while not government-
sanctioned, has left so
many children orphaned as
well.
The parallel is alarming
and just as efforts have been
instituted to reverse the
situation among elephants, it
is taking leadership like Ms.
Cloete with her husband and
daughters, to help children
and anyone they can as the
battle against AIDS/HIV is
waged in an area where it is
estimated that within three
years 26 million children
“will be orphaned as a result
of the virus.”
Ms. Cloete’s family
moved from a wealthy
Johannesburg suburb, determined
to make a difference.
That difference would come
in the form of a school,
Botshabelo, which is also a
village for over 500 children.
Botshabelo means a place
of safety or sanctuary, and in
addition to receiving an
education, the students have
a home where they must do
chores, while also enjoying a
form of structure and
security.
Security is important as
the stories of many of the
young children will show.
Lillian is one child that
will make viewers want to
take her home. A very
charming, beautiful, full-oflife
young girl, Lillian tells of
being raped and threatened.
Her accounting of the brutal
attack is riveting as she tells
of her pain.
Lillian is featured
throughout the film. What
you see is a young child, just
like the ones you see in your
house and communities.
Lillian and more than a
million others deserve the
same love, protection and
security. Unfortunately this
is not the case.
Many of the young girls
are raped or prostituted—
some coming away infected
by their attacker. Mrs.
Marion, as she is affectionately
known, does not want
the HIV positive status to be
a death sentence for any of
the precious children who
have been diagnosed. She
also is equally concerned
about the adults, ensuring
that they get the medications
they need to remain alive.
You’ll see a tough
Marion when she is taking
care of business, like talking
about “serial killers”—those
men who go around
knowingly infected others
with the virus. Then there’s
the soft side as she encourages
a mother to get medical
attention. And there’s also
the fun-loving Marion who
takes time to joke and cuddle
with the children.
Angels in the Dust sheds
light on the atrocities of the
abuses that young children
are being subjected to.
Because of the high incidences
of rape, many youth
are orphans, with out protection
or assistance. With
South Africa having one of
the highest rape and child
rape rates worldwide, clearly
this subject needs to be
discussed more and
hopefully Angels in the Dust
will be the catalyst for
change.
Angels in the Dust writer/
director Louise Hogarth said
the reports she heard made
her angry. Hopefully viewers
will be moved to action as
she was. What Ms. Hogarth
has provided is an intense
look at a situation that must
be addressed.
While Marion and
husband, Con, as well as her
daughters have embraced
South African children and
adults; anyone viewing
Angels in the Dust should
also feel compelled to help
put an end to the atrocities.
One thing for sure,
viewers will be able to feel
the love, hope and pain experienced
by the subjects in this
very mesmerizing and unsettling
film.
WHO: Angels in the Dust
WHAT: Opening
WHERE: Angelika Theatre
WHEN: November 2
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
www.dolfilms.org
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