Good Fortune

This film follows the experience of characters in Kenya whose lives are ravaged by the efforts of multinational private institutions and public charities who have entered their communities and instituted programs designed to provide aid. With the best intentions and very well laid plans, these huge relief efforts have helped some but decimated others. There are no real villains in this film which helps to explain why the problems facing international poverty relief efforts have proven so intractable. With a very novel approach to story telling and insights into the local communities, this film actually provides a new way to look at these issues and to develop new processes that really help.

Unlike other documentaries which deal with the aftermath of hardship and suffering, the filmmakers here follow their very memorable characters before calamity has struck. In so doing they have been able to construct a dramatic and effective 3 act structure which interweaves the lives of these three characters.

Director: Landon Van Soest

Producer: Landon Van Soest, Jeremy Levine

Festivals: SilverDocs, IDFA

Distributor: POV (US Television)

Awards: WINNER - Emmy Awards - Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting - Long Form