This past Sunday, June 9, the Woodstock Film Festival came to Ellenville with a showing of Orange County resident Thomas Allen Harris's documentary, Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela. The film documents the journeys of freedom fighters from the heart of apartheid in South Africa throughout the continent, to Europe, the United States and back

Filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris.

again to their homeland, all during their struggle to break free of oppressive colonial rule. The story focuses in particular on the filmmaker's late stepfather B. Pule Leinaeng, whom everybody knew as "Lee", who raised Harris since he was nine. Despite the fact that he was Harris's stepfather, the filmmaker pointed out that "in South Africa, there's no such thing as 'step,'" illustrating the strong relationship the two forged during Lee's lifetime. Both interesting and enlightening in its revelation of history of which many people are unaware, as well as a heart-wrenching story of losing home and strained familial relationships, the film offers a unique look into South Africa's political struggles, and the far-reaching effects it had on its victims.

The film was introduced by Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill (D), who called Ellenville a "wonderful gem" and the future centerpiece of the Catskill area because of its devotion to, and promotion of, the arts. "Mark my words: in five years, it's going to be hard to get a parking space out on that main street," said Cahill.

A question and answer period with Harris followed the screening, during which he revealed much about how the film came together, and what effects it had on him and his family. Many of the film's viewers were complimentary of what they had just seen, and couldn't wait to let Harris know how deeply the film had touched them. "I just want to thank you for documenting so much of this, and introducing it to the rest of the world," said one member of the audience.

"This is the first time I'm showing the film in the area in which I live, so it's really great to have this opportunity," said Harris after the questions. "It's been really great to be home, I've been travelling around the world with this film."

Winner of "Best Documentary" from both the Pan African Film Festival and the Santa Cruz Film Festival, and the "Henry Hampton Award for Excellence" from the Roxbury Film Festival, Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela is available for purchase online at www.chimpanzeeproductions. com.

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