Ils sont plus de mille à l’appeler « maman » ou « tantine ». Barbara Hofmann vit au Mozambique depuis plus de quinze ans. Elle s’y occupe des orphelins de guerre ou du sida qui ont vécu une histoire terrible. Ils ont besoin de nourriture, d’un lit, d’une instruction. Et ils ont peut-être surtout besoin d’amour. Elle a été incapable de les effacer de sa mémoire en prenant simplement un avion pour rentrer chez elle en Suisse.

Italie – 2005

R/D : Annamaria Gallone – Sc : Annamaria Gallone – Ph/C : Gianni Bonardi – M/Ed : Antonio Augugliaro – S : Marzio Marzot – Mus : Mauro Buttafava – P : Kenzi – 54′ – Beta – Doc – Coul/Col

More than a thousand of them call her « auntie » or « mamma ». Barbara Hofmann has been in Mozambique for them for over fifteen years. Her life in Switzerland was totally different with ordinary dreams and projects, but she was unable to leave all these children after she had met them, because she realized that she could not wipe them out of her mind and heart, simply by catching a plane. All of them are orphans of the war or AIDS and lived a terrible story. They come from hell and are in need of food, a bed under a roof, medical care and, if possible, schooling. Perhaps, most of all, they need love. Without waiting for help from institutions slowed down by bureaucracy, she dedicated herself to the « meninos » and fought to offer them the possibility of emerging from the horrors of war with dignity. This « angel of today », instead of wings, uses a motorcycle and has no room for sanctimonious words but fights a very difficult daily battle.

original title: L’ABBRACCIO DI BARBARA
directed by: Annamaria Gallone
cast: Barbara Hofmann
editing: Antonio Augugliaro
music: Mauro Buttafava
producer: Annamaria Gallone
production: Kenzi
country: Italy
year: 2005
film run: 53′ 50″
format: Digi Beta Pal – colour
aspect ratio: 4/3
sound: Stereo
status: Ready (12/07/2005)


festival & awards:

FESTIVAL D’AMIENS 2006
* Le Monde comme il va / Africa, Africas

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF KERALA 2006
* World: Long Documentaries

LOCARNO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2005
* Human Rights