Madonna’s critics miss the point, says film’s director

The critics who say Madonna’s presence in her film about Malawi’s orphans is a distraction are missing the point, says the director of “I Am Because We Are.”

And that point is we’re all connected – and that includes mega-celebrities.

“It’s easy to point your finger and say, “Why should she be telling me about people who are suffering?” And I think she’s really tried to curb that attitude and say, “I have a responsibility to live a life that’s going to help people,”” says Nathan Rissman, who’s in Traverse City for the film festival.

Rissman says Madonna was encouraged to show her emotions in the documentary by festival founder Michael Moore, who saw an early cut of the film.

And in several scenes, she does open up, at one point sharing details of meeting the child she eventually adopted, her two-year-old son, David.

Madonna appears briefly in several scenes and provides narration. There also are interview with famous figures like Desmond Tutu, Bill Clinton, and world-renowned expert on fighting poverty Jeffrey Sachs (who’s a Detroit native).

According to Rissman, the film has gotten picked up by an international distributor and by the Sundance Channel. He expects more details soon about possible theater showings in America.

Asked to compare Traverse City‘s festival to the famous one in Cannes, he gives the Michigan one high marks for the camaderie of the filmmakers and fans who’ve gathered here.

But Cannes, which he attended with Madonna, was pretty cool, too, what with “100,000 clapping as you take the red carpet.”

He adds, “Of course, it was for the blonde lady next to me.”

Source: Detroit Free press.