Tapestries of Hope
Encyclopedia
Tapestries of Hope is a feature-length documentary
that exposes a Zimbabwean myth that if a man rapes a virgin he will be cured of HIV
/AIDS
. The film focuses on the work human rights activist Betty Makoni
has done to protect and re-empower girls who have been victimized through sexual abuse. Tapestries of Hope aims to bring awareness to the widespread abuse of women and girls as well as the efforts of the Girl Child Network and its founder, Betty Makoni. The film is directed by Michealene Cristini Risley
, written by Susan Black and Michealene Cristini Risley, and produced by Michealene Cristini Risley, Susan Black, Christopher Bankston, Anand Chandrasekaran, and Ray Arthur Wang
. "Tapestries of Hope" was theatrically released September 28, 2010 in over 100 theaters across the U.S.
The stories were told by the girls of Zimbabwe and Makoni was the main cast for this film. Throughout the film, it was showed how Makoni has helped the girls in finding their voice and speaks out on the atrocities they have experienced. Risley and her crew were arrested and incarcerated shortly after shooting 22 hours of footage in Zimbabwe. The film was also seized by the Zimbabwean Intelligence Office at one time. However, the team managed to retrieve the footage and left Zimbabwe shortly after.
(Betty Makoni has since been named one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009.)
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
that exposes a Zimbabwean myth that if a man rapes a virgin he will be cured of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. The film focuses on the work human rights activist Betty Makoni
Betty Makoni
Betty Makoni is a Zimbabwean gender activist who founded the Girl Child Network, which cares for Zimbabwe's young sex abuse victims; the organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls. She earned two degrees from the University of Zimbabwe, and has been awarded numerous national and international...
has done to protect and re-empower girls who have been victimized through sexual abuse. Tapestries of Hope aims to bring awareness to the widespread abuse of women and girls as well as the efforts of the Girl Child Network and its founder, Betty Makoni. The film is directed by Michealene Cristini Risley
Michealene Cristini Risley
Michealene Cristini Risley is an award-winning writer, director and human rights activist.Risley is most well known for her recent work as the writer, producer and director for the film Tapestries of Hope, which follows social activist Betty Makoni in her efforts to help sexually abused young women...
, written by Susan Black and Michealene Cristini Risley, and produced by Michealene Cristini Risley, Susan Black, Christopher Bankston, Anand Chandrasekaran, and Ray Arthur Wang
Ray Arthur Wang
Ray Arthur Wang is an American filmmaker/entrepreneur, known in particular for human and animal rights activism. He is also a retired concert pianist....
. "Tapestries of Hope" was theatrically released September 28, 2010 in over 100 theaters across the U.S.
Plot
Director Michealene Cristini Risley traveled to Zimbabwe to explore the rape and AIDS crisis in the country. She had previously befriended Betty Makoni, a born and raised Zimbabwean, and got to know about Makoni's organization, The Girl Child Network, which aims to empower the girls in Zimbabwe to stand up for their rights and also to provide a network as protection for these girls.The stories were told by the girls of Zimbabwe and Makoni was the main cast for this film. Throughout the film, it was showed how Makoni has helped the girls in finding their voice and speaks out on the atrocities they have experienced. Risley and her crew were arrested and incarcerated shortly after shooting 22 hours of footage in Zimbabwe. The film was also seized by the Zimbabwean Intelligence Office at one time. However, the team managed to retrieve the footage and left Zimbabwe shortly after.
(Betty Makoni has since been named one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009.)
Awards
- 2010 Monaco Film Festival Special Mention for "Inspiration and Strong Message"
- 2010 The Directors Guild of America, Director Finder Series
- 2009 WIFTS Best Documentary
- 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival – “Aloha Accolade” Award for Excellence in Filmmaking - Documentary
- 2009 Accolade Film Awards 2009, Award of Merit
- 2009 Louisville International Festival of Film, Best Documentary
- 2009 The Indie Fest, Award of Excellence
- 2008 Amnesty International’s Ginetta Sagan Award Women’s and Children’s Rights - Betty Makoni
- 2007 Junior Chamber International (JCI) Outstanding Young Persons of the World - Betty Makoni
- 2007 Society for New Communicatios Research Media blog of the year - http://savehope.blogspot.com/
Sources
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1109523/
- http://www.indiegogo.com/project/view/117
- http://us.oneworld.net/places/zimbabwe/-/article/betty-makoni
External links
- http://www.freshwaterspigot.com
- http://www.tapestriesofhope.com/
- http://savehope.blogspot.com/
- htt://www.freshwaterhaven.org
- Conversation with Michealene Risley and Betty Makoni, podcast December 3, 2009