BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/04/2008

Girls From Belarus

Saturday April 19 at 8.30pm

The Girls From Belarus is the story of a couple who take in two girls from Belarus, the country most horrifically affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

Alun Armstrong and Lindsey Coulson star as married couple Bob and Julie Jenkins, who don't anticipate what a dramatic affect the girls will have on their lives and how hard it will be to send them home..

Bob and Julie's only daughter Laura - played by Samantha Robinson - is moving into student digs and they are dreading her leaving home. Bob channels his frustrations into building him and Julie a dream home, but Julie is feeling neglected and would rather he spent more time with her.

Julie hears a story on the radio about a charity scheme where children from Belarus can come to stay with a family in the UK for a month. The idea is to help them build up their immune system and research has proved that a month away could extend their wellbeing for up to two years. Bob is against the idea and thinks it could do the children more harm than good, but Julie decides to get involved - with or without his support.

When Nadia and Nelli arrive at their home, against all the odds Bob makes an emotional connection with the awkward Nelli and the children open everyone's eyes to the exciting world we live in and so often take for granted. Bob learns to laugh again and Julie delights in their renewed zest for life and each other. But then, having bonded with Nelli, Bob can't bear the idea of saying goodbye to her. Julie wonders whether the scheme has done them all more harm than good.

The Belarus children are played by Anna Krippa, 12, (Nelli), her brother Gregory Krippa, 10, (Vasily), who are from Withington, Manchester and Anastasia Pavlenko-Lewis, 9, (Nadia) from Bangor, Wales. The three children have Russian parents and are bi-lingual Russian and English speakers.

Alun Armstong said: "The catastrophe that continues to blight the victims of Chernobyl is truly heartbreaking. I'm delighted to be involved in this beautiful story about a Manchester family whose lives are changed by two kids from Belarus who have nothing to give but love. Get your hankies out."

Lindsey Coulson said: "I think it's really good we're bringing Chernobyl back into people's consciousness and looking again at the extent of a nuclear disaster. I've always wanted to work with Alun Armstrong, so I'm delighted to be in this and it was great to be working back in Manchester again."

Source:

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/413551/1719236

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