I’ve always been drawn to documentaries that explore the nature of creativity. I’m fascinated by artists and what makes them tick – how their minds work and how they can create. Liyana is such a documentary, but the subjects aren’t developed artists. They’re orphaned children in Swaziland, who, with the help of renowned storyteller Gcina Mhlophe, develop an enchanting fable centered around a young girl named Liyana. Through this creative exercise, it’s hoped that the children can begin to process the loss and trauma they’ve experienced and empower them to have successful and happy lives. After seeing the joy and pride their story brings to them, I believe the sky’s the limit.
The children’s wonderful story is brought to life by the stunning artwork of Nigerian-born artist Shofela Coker. Liyana must travel a great distance to rescue her twin brothers from the robbers who stole them in the night. She’s aided by the family cow, and the two must survive jungle crocodiles, desert starvation, and nasty cave creatures. It’s an old-school fable augmented with some of the most compelling visual accompaniment I can recall. Coker’s work is a deep and layered tapestry of imagery that compels the story further and further into the realm of legend. When you hear it and see it together, universal truths begin to take shape. And all this plucked from the minds of children. It’s fantastic.
Mostly from broken homes that have been devastated by AIDS and alcoholism, the children weave their life stories into that of Liyana’s. Watching how they intertwine reality with creativity is both beautiful and heartbreaking. In between chapters, we follow as the children go to school, play, and visit community doctors. AIDS is still a disastrous epidemic in Swaziland, putting everyone at risk. The difficulty in rationalizing the deep emotional wounds present in these kids is wholly offset by the power of the narrative they create. Liyana gives them power, and with that, anything is possible.
Even with the danger, the disease, and the poverty, Liyana is about hope and empowerment. It’s not meant to bring us down but inspire us and our own creative impulses. As the father of a 4-year-old, I’m amazed daily by the drawings and colors that my daughter produces. Her creativity is a reflex, and I find that fascinating. The story of Liyana is the same – it exposes the natural inclination children have to create. It’s a reflection, an escape, and a process to work through experiences. It’s a beautiful thing.
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.