This gem of a movie appeared in my inbox last week while I was going through emails, and immediately I was fascinated by the woman in the picture. Her stoic face, the dreamlike quality of the color grade, and the title alone, Sewing Hope, piqued my interest. I quickly discovered that Sewing Hope recently made its festival run and doesn’t have a set theatrical release date (although you can stream the documentary online, which is now available to watch). While we typically don’t cover films outside of theaters, it’s our mission to cover independent films, and if there was ever a socially relevant, emotionally moving film worth watching, it’s Sewing Hope.

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe is the woman in the picture and the subject of the documentary. Narrated by Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, Sewing Hope centers around the women and children affected by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda, and how Sister Rosemary gave these girls a second chance at life using just a sewing machine and soda can pop tabs.

“The guns have stopped firing, but the war still remains”

Recalling harrowing stories from child brides and rebels, these girls finally feel comfortable enough to share their story around Sister Rosemary. Ashamed, one admits she was forced to kill her younger sister by “cutting her up into little pieces,” while another remembers the rebels putting padlocks through the lips of those who spoke out of turn. Its graphic nature is shown by animation throughout the film. Many girls admit that they will never be able to forgive themselves, and to this Sister Rosemary preaches hope- hope for today gives hope towards the future.

“The guns have stopped firing, but the war still remains,” Sister Rosemary exclaims, as she introduces these girls to life skills that will help them reintegrate into society. Forever branded a “rebel” by their communities, many girls find solace at St. Monica Girl’s School- the institution Sister Rosemary set up to rehabilitate and educate children.

These are powerful women; their faces show signs of heartache and sadness, but they persevere for the hope of a better life. Aside from the clothing and baked goods they make (and are subsequently sold throughout the community), Sister Rosemary has given the girls the skills needed to create handbags. They create beautiful purses made out of thread and pop tabs, which retail in the United States for around $300. The girls get paid per bag made- giving them the opportunity to decide how much money they make, but most importantly, they are instilled with a strong work ethic that will last a lifetime.

Sewing Hope is a platform to draw attention to these girls and their stories. Sister Rosemary is a fantastic subject; She became a nun at 15, stood up to Kony and the rebels, and continues to empower girls by teaching tough love, and giving them the confidence to be independent and self-sufficient. Essentially, she is giving them a future- or at the very least, giving these girls hope for a better future. Sewing Hope runs less than an hour and can be seen here: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/sewing_hope