“Children’s imaginations have always been a significant way to protect and insulate them from the adult world,” writes Australian parenting author and educator Maggie Dent in her 2012 blog post “Death Through the Eyes of a Child.” The 2018 documentary Liyana illustrates the power of imagination with poignant real-life examples. Using animation and documentary footage, the award-winning film follows five children in the African country of Eswatini as they channel traumatic experiences, such as losing parents and facing HIV, into a fable about a brave girl fighting for her family. The Vermont International Film Festival presents the picture as part of its Monthly Screening series and recommends it for viewers ages 10 and up.
