Todd Miller provided the soundtrack for a film about hunger in Tanzania. FILE/AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/the free lance-star Visit the Photo Place

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Documentary explores poverty, hunger, debt and kindness

Film explores poverty, hunger, debt and kindness.

Date published: 3/13/2007

By Flowers Umble

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

You might consider Chad Amour kind.

Others have praised him for his generosity; Amour has helped out in Tanzania four times and is a youth director at a Minneapolis church.

But Amour wasn't so sure. Did he do all these things out of love? Or to maintain an image?

While he pondered his motives, Amour started work on a documentary about hunger in Tanzania. He came across a quote by author C.S. Lewis:

"There is a kindness in Love: but Love and kindness are not coterminous."

And he realized that a mission trip to Africa was the easy part. Showing love while juggling work, relationships and the demands of life was the challenge.

And he knew his film would explore more than poverty.

He wanted to make a documentary that would make people ask the same question he asked: Are my motives pure?

He hooked up with a high school buddy, Todd Miller, who now lives in Spotsylvania County and teaches at Brock Road Elementary School.

Miller accompanied Amour to Tanzania last summer and recorded music for the film, which was recently released.

Miller and Amour screened the film last Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spotsylvania. More than 50 people showed up to watch "Shadows of Virtue" and listen to Miller perform part of the soundtrack live.

The 40-minute film covers some weighty topics: AIDS orphans, poverty, hunger and the debt carried by poor countries.

Miller said he tried to make the music hopeful as a counterpoint.

For instance, one song says, "I've got news for you. The harvest comes for everyone. It won't be long 'til everything is all right."

Amour and Miller hope area churches and community groups will show the film and hold discussions about charity.

Miller said the documentary should make people think about "not just how we react to needs thousands of miles away but also how we offer support and love to our neighbors, our co-workers and our friends."

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com

Want to show the film to your group? E-mail Todd Miller at tjsmiller@gmail.com. For other details (including how to get your own copy of the film or soundtrack) visit humdingerpictures.com. For more information on Miller, visit musicforstrength .com. Coterminous: having the same border or covering the same area. Or, being the same in extent; coextensive in range or scope.

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Date published: 3/13/2007