Originally intended as a documentary about the orphans of Uganda's destructive civil war, Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami (TASTE OF CHERRY) expanded the scope of ABC AFRICA to include those stricken by Africa's massive AIDS epidemic and the people who work tirelessly to improve the conditions of their country. His impressionistic travelogue captures the destruction of war and the ravages of disease, but also the determined and optimistic spirit of those who work for a brighter future for Uganda.
Kiarostami was invited by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to film in Uganda. He brought along a small crew and several hand-held digital video cameras to capture both the expansive beauty of the Ugandan landscape and the up-close, personal ravages of war, poverty and disease. Taking advantage of the flexibility of digital video, Kiarostami and his crew are able to capture intimate, honest moments with a few of the millions of Ugandan orphans and AIDS patients, and show gritty, unconventional views of the war-torn country.
