carl-609-708468 The documentary, Open Heart, is simply stunning. My wife and I left the theater weeping. It is both sad and exhilarating. To see these sweet children with Rheumatic Heart Disease receive a second chance at life is a joy to behold. The sad part of the story is that this disease, which is widespread among children in Africa, can be avoided with antibiotics given to the children in its early stages. Rheumatic Heart Disease is virtually non existent in the United States. Penicillin has eliminated this risk completely. But in Africa, Penicillin is not widely available. Once the heart has been damaged, nothing short of open heart surgery will give the patient a chance at life. The film is so tender it will rearrange your heart, and put life in a more realistic perspective.

MartinHafer Today I went to a special showing of the Academy Award Nominated Documentary Shorts. Surprisingly, all five of the nominees were very good. Not as surprising is that ALL were incredibly depressing films. After they ended, I wondered how many depressed folks see these five and then begin having suicidal thoughts! Yes, they were that depressing. Now having a depressing documentary is not a bad thing--often the films are about social problems and being depressing isn't bad. But ALL of them being depressing? Next year I wouldn't mind seeing at least one that isn't about old people waiting to die, cancer, homelessness, poverty or dying African children--like this year's crop! But, again, they ALL were quite good....I really liked "Open Heart"--it's a good film and was my second favorite of the films nominated for this year's Oscar for Best Documentary Short. I think it's the most likely to win, as the topic of kids in Africa dying of heart conditions is one that is sure to touch the committee's heart--and, while I still preferred "Monday's at Racine", both films are deserving choices.Much of the film is set in Rwanda. You soon learn that a serious problem on the continent is Rheumatic fever and the damage it does to children's hearts. Kids are dying or severely damaged simply because the drugs needed to treat the disease aren't widely available in these poor countries. A group of eight of the sickest kids and young adults in one Rwandan clinic have a last-ditch hope--that a free clinic in Sudan (2500 miles away) can cure them. This film then follows them to Sudan and you get to meet the fine people that run this facility.It's hard to watch the film without getting sucked into the kids' lives--particularly the cute 6 year-old. And, the film is well made and kept my interest throughout. Well worth your time and God bless these people for the work they are doing.UPDATE: Well, as usual, my prediction was wrong and "Innocente" won the Oscar in this category.