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 deeply felt personal challenges.

Each year over eight million families around the world suffer the loss of a child. In Steinman’s moving and inspiring first feature, a 17-day trip to South Africa transforms the lives of six grieving women from across the US. 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.

View the trailer for “Motherland”

Prior to their journey, the six intrepid women of “Motherland” 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.

They travel half way around the world where they live with local families and work with African organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children. As they come to know each other, they assist teachers in over-crowded day care centers, lead activities with abused and at-risk teens and help care for physically-challenged youth.

The work is meaningful and rewarding and a welcome reprieve from the depression, isolation and stagnation of life at home. In the end, the women share not just their stories and their pain but themselves - with and for each other and even more profoundly, with the children who touch their hearts at every turn. 

“Motherland” was the winner of this year’s Emerging Visions Audience Award at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. Its other awards include the Jury Prize for Best Feature at the 2009 Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival and Best Documentary at the 2009 California Independent Film Festival. 

Interviews available with director Jennifer Steinman as well as several of the women featured in “Motherland” including Anne Ma gill, Barbara Crandall and Debbi Berto. 

Gigantic Digital Cinema (www.giganticdigital.com) is the industry leader in the digital exhibition of new, first-run independent and foreign language films. Gigantic Digital streams films in ultra high quality and commercial-free either exclusively or as a dramatic extension to traditional theatrical engagements. The price at Gigantic Digital is $2.99 for a three-day, unlimited viewing ticket. Markets in which the film is or will be playing in theaters are ‘blacked out’ so that the digital release does not compete with or cannibalize those engagements.

• - have set up all night long with a sick toddler in their arms,
• - run carpools and make cookies and sew costumes for the school plays,
• - ache as they see their once innocent babies move into the “tween” and then teen years,
• - are stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation,
• - teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot,
• - lock themselves in the bathroom when their babies keep crying and won’t stop,
• - feel the need to flee from wherever you are when you hear news of a school shooting, a fire, a car accident, a baby dying, so that you can hug your own child,
• - are married, are single, who work outside of the home, and those that stay at home
• - are just trying to do a great job….

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Remember, Motherhood is a partnership with God……

“The experience is giving, satisfying, and humbling.
Once a Mother, always a Mother. A Mother’s work is
never done!” Sandra Q

“My experience as a Mother has been wonderful, loving
and rewarding and at the same time shocking, overwhelming
and funny.

I find there is always a new or
another level. Just when you think you got it, BAM,
here comes a twist. Given all that I wouldn’t change being
a mother for anything. Motherhood is love in the
purest form.” Rhoda C.

“My daughters are 7 & 9 now. I compare being a
Mother like being a mother eagle.

Yes, I have to nurture
and protect them, but I have to know when to nudge
them and give them all the tools they need so they can
ultimately soar when they grow up.”
Bernette P.

“Being a Mother, is the best job ever!”
Shannon M.