Reviews & Quotes | THE FRIENDSHIP BENCH

Encounters Film Festival
"The jury were “moved and inspired by this life-affirming story of how a simple grassroots idea, harnessing the power of Gogos (grandmothers), can have a profound impact on the mental health of communities. All aspects of the edit: story, emotion, image flow, and style, worked together to make The Friendship Bench a truly compelling film. From the evocative opening - literally ‘walking in the footsteps’ of these women - the story pulled us in; and we were eloquently guided through the intellectual journey by our protagonist (always saying just enough, and not a word more). Style worked in the service of the story: simple, clear, effective - and was sustained throughout. The interplay between interactions, narration and lyrical moments was well balanced. The emotional journey of the Gogos and the people they help was at times harrowing, at times hopeful and full of joy - but always gripping. Moments left to linger, like the woman joining the back of the queue, showed very effective use of pacing. The film was clearly and authentically African. Through choice of music, beautifully cut scenes of singing and praying, the use of colour and the overall look, it captured the richness and vibrancy of the culture. It’s rare to come across such a hopeful story. Truly inspiring!”