NewsLab

She was among the glamorous stars who walked along the famous red carpet. Madonna was in town for Cannes Festival to present her documentary about Malawi, the warm heart of Africa, (as she says), whose beats are beginning to fade away because of AIDS. She attended the film’s premiere in diamonds and a glittering Channel dress, accompanied by her husband Guy Ritchie.
 

It was one of the most anticipated events here in Cannes and News Lab was there among the few who managed to get the much desired tickets.

“ I am because we are”, the title of the documentary. Ironically, she is Africa’s sole representative in Cannes festival. In the apogee of her career, 49-year old Madonna chose to get in front of the line and to turn the lights on the sufferings of orphaned children in Malawi. The documentary’s recipe is extremely simple. Religion- Politics - Fame. In her film they are invoked equally with the help of former President Bill Clinton, South Africa’s Archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and the star herself, who unfolds her personal story.

Madonna admits it. She didn’t even know where Malawi was. But she became motivated to witness the sufferings of African people and eventually to use her fame as a weapon to draw world wide attention. The documentary features the stories of various children who have lost their parents to Aids and suffered terrible ordeals. It lasts 90 minutes. But actually it ends at the moment Madonna describes how she came across little David in an orphanage while making her film. On a second visit, she found him suffering from pneumonia and malaria, with no medicine available. She decided to adopt him.

“ I am because we are”  was written, narrated and executive- produced by the singer, songwriter Madonna.

For me, it was a very good program for Television, with excellent montage but no effort to go beyond the self- evident, to read between the lines. Many times it seems to me that it was an excellent Tv commercial…But really the documentary is…., because Madonna is an idol. For many who still don’t know where Malawi is, there is a good chance they will learn now. But how far they will go - because of this film - in order to break our indifference’s vicious cycle, it remains a big question.