Music by Prudence
| Music by Prudence | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Roger Ross Williams |
| Produced by | Roger Ross Williams Elinor Burkett Patrick Wright (co-producer) |
| Starring | Prudence Mabhena Tapiwa Nyengera Energy Maburutse Honest Mupatse Marvelous Mbulo Vusani Vuma Goodwell Nzou Farai Mabhande |
| Cinematography | Derek Wiesehahn (director of cinematography) Errol Webber Osato Dixon |
| Edited by | Geeta Gandbhir (editor) Patrick Wright (associate editor) |
| Music by | Music Producer/additional composition Ted Mason |
Production company | iThemba Productions |
| Distributed by | HBO |
Release date |
|
Running time | 33 minutes |
| Countries | United States Zimbabwe[1] |
| Language | English |
Music by Prudence is a 2010 short documentary film directed by Roger Ross Williams. It tells the story of the then 24-year-old Zimbabwean singer-songwriter Prudence Mabhena, and follows her transcendence from a world of hatred and superstition into one of music, love, and possibilities.
Music by Prudence won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 82nd Academy Awards.[2] The film premiered on HBO on 12 May 2010.
Synopsis[edit]
Music by Prudence tells a self-empowering story of one young woman's struggle who, together with her band, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds and, in her own voice, conveys to the world that "disability does not mean inability."
Zimbabwean singer-songwriter Prudence Mabhena was born severely disabled. The society she was born into considers disabilities to carry the taint of witchcraft.[3] Because of this, many disabled children are abandoned. But Prudence and the seven young members of the band she has formed called Liyana, all disabled, have managed to overcome stereotypes and inspire the same people that once saw them as a curse.
The main subjects of Music by Prudence, and members of the band "Liyana", are:
- Prudence Mabhena – singer and composer (suffers from arthrogryposis)
- Tapiwa Nyengera – back-up singer, keyboard, front man (has spina bifida)
- Energy Maburutse – first marimba player, back-up vocalist (suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, brittle bone syndrome)
- Honest Mupatse – tenor marimba player (has hemophilia)
- Marvelous Mbulo – back-up singer (has muscular dystrophy)
- Vusani Vuma – bass marimba player (is hearing-impaired)
- Goodwell Nzou – traditional drums and percussion, back-up singer (leg amputated)
- Farai Mabhande – lead keyboardist (suffers from arthrogryposis)
Awards[edit]
On 7 March 2010, Music by Prudence won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).[4]
Elinor Burkett, co-producer of the film, interrupted Roger's speech which lead to an apology from her on The Joy Behar Show and Roger redo his acceptance speech on Larry King Live alongside their departing friendship.[5]
See also[edit]
- iThemba, another documentary film about Liyana
References[edit]
- ^ Trailer on YouTube
- ^ 2010|Oscars.org
- ^ "Oscar nomination for 'Music by Prudence' about disabled Zimbabwean singer Prudence Mabhena". San Francisco BayView. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ Short Film Winners: 2010 Oscars
- ^ Oscar interrupter says she was wronged - CNN.com
External links[edit]
- 2010 films
- Best Documentary Short Subject Academy Award winners
- American short documentary films
- Films shot in Zimbabwe
- Documentary films about people with disabilities
- Documentary films about poverty
- 2010 short documentary films
- Music of Zimbabwe
- Documentary films about singers
- Documentary films about women in music
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s American films
- Films directed by Roger Ross Williams