Sta­tus of Life

4500 babies are born with HIV in South Africa every month. At the same time 30,000 adults get infected with the virus and about 22,500 people die of AIDS. The number of rapes is estimated at more than 40,000 cases - per month. Against this backdrop, the documentary "Status of Life" goes on a search for answers on how to deal with the ubiquity of HIV/AIDS in South African townships. How can one preserve normality and everyday life in such an extreme environment? And just how valuable are normality and daily life in a country that is constantly balancing on the fine line between denial and hope? The documentary gives an insight into the lives of four women from South Africa and neighbouring Lesotho - they all share their desire to save lives by improving HIV/AIDS education, to break with the prevailing taboos and to liberate their country from the devastating pandemic... Routine, humour, irrepressible zest for life, family bonds, love – they live normality and yet one always senses that nothing is normal around here and the prospects remain uncertain...