LIYANA Trailer
Playing with format allows for a fascinating perspective to take hold in the documentary Liyana.
In the film, the camera is focused on a group of children in Swaziland. All are orphans, and all are in a program where a professional storyteller helps them create their own fairy tale. What they come up with is more evocative of their situation than a traditional documentary would be, and the painful realities of their life are buffered by seeing the kids healed a bit by the process.
In case you’re worried that this sounds like a talking heads style documentary, rest assured that directors Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp aren’t shortchanging the kids’ imaginations. The children narrate the story, but the journey of the titular Liyana is brought to life through stylish animation. After all, since the film is as much about the healing power of storytelling as it is about the situation in Swaziland, they had to do the kids’ story justice.
The documentary is coming off a highly successful festival run, where it racked up more than twenty awards from critics and audiences alike. That kind of proven widespread appeal makes it one that’s likely worth searching for.
Liyana is directed by Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp. It will be released in the US on October 10th, 2018. Further release dates are not currently known.
Are you interested in this unusual documentary? Let us know in the comments!
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