there be a lot of sadness in this film artfully render and and a measure of grace too and which feel hard earn . the writer director thom fitzgerald and at the ny screening and say that the reality he encounter while research it be probably even bad than he could bear to show . ( amazingly and the renowned dr. david ho be also present at the screening and which add another hopeful touch represent hiv or aid progress be be make but and a the film show and funding and education be still lack in poor country and and attitude be often still mess up in rich one . ) there be a didactic purpose in 3 needle and but fortunately fitzgerald have the storytelling skill and the director talent to bear the load . you may not buy everything in it and and you may be angry at him for some of the tough image and choice and but the human emotion and pain and the weakness and strength be grip and undeniable . and many of the secondary observation and about character and place and feel sharp and well observe . the prologue be a perfect example of a warm and vibrant image give way to a shock one represent teenage boy of an african tribe cover their body with a pale paste and un self consciously help each other and though they be naked . it be an ancient ritual and they appear eager and joke around but purposeful . later they be to be circumcise and the passageway into become men . the image of the knife and for reason which will be instantly clear and be uniquely jolt . surprisingly the movie manage to sustain the intensity and ask question while shin a light on different corner of the world . the acting and cinematography be uniformly good and the latter especially consider the low budget . most of the south african be non actor and include tribespeople who have never even see a film . fitzgerald call this version the director cut since his canadian distributor previously show a much different version which cut several scene and and jumble the story together . this might have make sense in another movie and but with the story on 3 different continent and this version and with each play discretely and seem much well . also and fitzgerald say he shoot a 4th scenario which he cut and probably for length . see this on the big screen and it will very likely stay with you .