Motherland (2009)

Plot Summary

An honest and intimate look at the complexities of grief and healing, "Motherland" is about resilience, triumph of the human spirit and the power of unconditional love. It also reminds us of the vastly different ways in which disparate cultures confront personal loss. Each year over eight million families around the world suffer the loss of a child. In Jennifer Steinman's moving and inspiring documentary film, a 17-day trip to South Africa transforms the lives of six grieving mothers from across the U.S. Unexpectedly, and eight thousand miles from home, each finds comfort and healing in a landscape that appears, at first, to offer little more than melancholy. Prior to their journey, the six women have each suffered the death of a child, but otherwise have little in common. And although the anticipation of a long, emotional journey with a group of strangers evokes anxiety, the women all share a desire to make sense of their tragedies and to move forward with their lives....