Two mothers lose their sons to malaria.
Wealthy American housewife Mary Morgan takes her bullied son George out of school for home education,including a trip to Southern Africa. Whilst in Mozambique George is bitten by a mosquito which crawls through a hole in his net and dies of malaria. After his funeral at home Mary feels a compulsion to return to Africa where she meets English woman Martha O'Connell,whose 24 year old son Ben, a teacher with voluntary service overseas,has also died of malaria. Ben gave his net to one of his pupils,believing adults cannot catch malaria. The two women are shocked to see the high death rate caused by the disease and,whilst Martha stays in Africa as a voluntary helper,Mary petitions the American government to change things. Martha turns up at Mary's house unannounced and,helped by Mary's ex-diplomat father,they address a senate committee on health spending,persuading them to do more to combat malaria. They meet with some success though a coda states that much more can be done.
- Harm to children
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Character
Grave, earnest, classical in form and contemporary.
- gravecomic
- earnestironic
- classical in formformally daring
- contemporarynostalgic
- resolvedopen-ended
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“Is Hilary Swank the best thing in Mary and Martha?”
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Cast
- Hilary SwankMary
- Brenda BlethynMartha
- Sam ClaflinBen
- Frank GrilloPeter
- James WoodsMary's Father
- Adam NeillTeacher
- Stephen JenningsPrincipal
- Chandler McIntyreHannah
- Stephanie FaracyHead of Committee
- Melissa PonzioAlice
Crew
- Phillip NoyceDirector
- Richard CurtisWriter
- Roberto De AngelisDirector of Photography
- Hilary Bevan JonesProducer
- Lisa BruceProducer
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