mamabear110 I view this documentary on HBO this past week and thought it excellent. So much so that I have bought not only the DVD but the CD as well. I was particularly moved by this film because I am on the Board of Directors of a grassroots organization called Our Journey, Inc. that works in the same South African province where Agape is located. In fact, our founder/directors has visited Agape. The only thing missing from the film was the fact that the children in the orphanage are the lucky ones!!! Our organization works to provide basic needs of children without any family or community support. Some children as young as seven years of age are the head of the household. If there is an adult it is usually a grandmother (called gogos) who is looking after grandchildren and great grandchildren because the young adults have died of AIDS.Please tell everyone you know about this film. The world needs to know about them and their great needs. Teddie Martin, Board of Directors our journey inc.org

Chrisgb-91 The documentary has everything you want from a film which depicts and fantastically displays the culture of another collection of people from the globe. This collection being an orphanage in South Africa named 'Agape' in which children who have lost their parents go to stay and are looked after. The documentary follows the espionage as their truly mesmerising and powerful singing leads them into a whole new world which can open up doors for themselves back home and for many future South African's around their area. It also focuses on a large family who have lost their parents in which there is now a divide (The elder family members staying at the family home and the younger members staying at Agape because of the lack of finance to take care of them). The scenes where the family are together and participating in family banter and activities is really nice to watch...real people...living real lives but with many more obstructions and difficulties in their lives than many of us are fortunate not to experience. The affection and warmth and love within the family is just simply lovely to watch and is captured so well by the film. It also follows a plot in which the Agape espionage is trying to raise money for more funds to expand etc. and after a trip to England was cancelled plus other factors make it extremely hard for them to follow their dream. Will they reach it? If you haven't seen it then watch and find out.The music and singing seen in the documentary again is captured brilliantly...really showing and emphasising to the audience just how important music is to these children and their culture. It helps them in every aspect of life and you really do understand and appreciate how the music and singing has had a massive impact on their lives. The film also covers more harrowing subjects such as the effect of HIV on the family. Sifiso the big brother of the family being diagnosed which leads obviously to some really emotional scenes of pain and sorrow and hits you hard as to the fact that HIV is at large in these areas and the emotional challenges it unfortunately sets upon the family. Normally all we see about HIV is statistics and figures but this film helps us connect with the people, connect with the family during their time of bereavement and really get across the emotional and painful side to HIV rather than numbers. It follows a truly great story with harsh realities of life a massive part and also involving so many wonderful kids who have some great personalities and great voices who have a dream to make their lives better and many more generations to come better by doing what they do best...sing. Emotional, touching, funny, hard-hitting, family, lovely...a great piece from the upcoming filmmaker Paul Taylor. Great documentary following a great story.

vincent-251 There's a couple of dozen more adjectives I could have used in the title. We Are Together hits the audience on so many levels that I couldn't possibly mention them all. This is a truly wonderful film and my only concern is that people won't go out and see it because they feel it's just another 'tragic Africa story' that gives Westerners the chance to portray themselves as saviours. I admit I suspected it might be such a film and was relieved to find it isn't. Not in the slightest.While the story's tragic subject matter gets the attention it deserves, you'll spend just as much time laughing at the humour, sharing in the children's excitement, and for every tear you shed in sympathy, you'll shed one out of sheer joy.

richardjweiss This remarkable documentary weaves a variety of poignant stories about orphans of the African AIDS epidemic, the uplifting tale of a marvelous children's choir, and the quiet heroism of a family of ten siblings that have lost their parents. It shifts focus from the microcosmic look at a poor black South African family, to a medium range examination of an orphanage that does what it can in its own limited way, to a wide-angled view of the world's perception of the same subject. While not free of sobering truths regarding the epidemic in Africa, it offers some joyous insights into the daily lives of some of its victims, and some wise observations of the role of music in their lives. It's one of those rare experiences that make you happy you're crying, and at the same time make you laugh out loud. I absolutely promise you, you won't be sorry you see this film. Just don't forget the Kleenex.