Mary and Martha

2013 Rated NR · ⭐ 6.7 · Votes: 69

“Two mothers lose their sons to malaria.”

Wealthy American housewife Mary Morgan takes her bullied son George out of school for home educationincluding a trip to Southern Africa. Whilst in Mozambique George is bitten by a mosquito which crawls through a hole in his net and dies of malaria. After his funeral at home Mary feels a compulsion to return to Africa where she meets English woman Martha O'Connellwhose 24 year old son Ben a teacher with voluntary service overseashas also died of malaria. Ben gave his net to one of his pupilsbelieving adults cannot catch malaria. The two women are shocked to see the high death rate caused by the disease andwhilst Martha stays in Africa as a voluntary helperMary petitions the American government to change things. Martha turns up at Mary's house unannounced andhelped by Mary's ex-diplomat fatherthey address a senate committee on health spendingpersuading them to do more to combat malaria. They meet with some success though a coda states that much more can be done.