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are the main characters in the documentary film THE BURDEN. The film depicts an intimate portrait of their deeply religious couple. They are silently living with AIDS. We follow them striving for acceptance among their church community in the Central African Republic.
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Synopsis: In Bangui, Rodrigue and Reine are a couple very involved in the activities of their church. But they live with a terrible secret: they are sick with AIDS and carry it like a divine punishment. When Rodrigue is offered the position of assistant pastor, he has doubts: is he worthy of leading the church of Christ? Yet how can he refuse when he depends on Reine's trade? With the pandemic, ARV drugs are becoming scarce and the rumour is spreading that HIV-positive people will die if they vaccinate against Covid19. Reine believes a miracle is possible and sets out on a quest for a miraculous cure. She takes her husband from church to pilgrimage, from prayers of repentance to spiritual fasts, in the hope of divine healing.
AIDS: Being HIV-positive in Central African Republic is still marked by shame and fear. Most patients keep their illness a secret, so that thousands of people die of AIDS. Rodrigue and Reine were no exception. Until Elvis Sabin Ngaïbino offered them to film a documentary, they had chosen to keep their condition a secret. Agreeing to participate meant revealling their HIV status and was therefore a decision with serious consequences. Yet, it is not only a threat, but perhaps a blessing. The secret of their HIV-positive status had become a curse for them and they were desperate to get rid of it, but they didn't dare to take the initiative.
In Central African Republic, a study ran from March to July 2023 revealed persistent challenges in HIV management. The distance to treatment facilities, safety during the journey, lack of food, stigmatisation and differentiated models that struggle to adapt to patients' needs continue to be major obstacles to access to treatment.
Rodrigue: 40, is a pastor student in his Church. He converted to God after he'd lost his job. He admits committing mistakes before receiving the Call from God. He says that his conversion is one of the best thing that happened to him, otherwise he would've turned to alcoholism and prostitution, and his life would've ended years ago. He often assists the pastor Job during Sunday services. It's a way for him to gain experience and some money.
Reine: is Rodrigue's wife, she's a warrior. She didn't go far in her studies, she stopped early to focus on trading. She first started in the corner of a street, retailing lifestock, food, coffee, wood, doughnuts, in order to go up the professional ladder. She always remembers that she met Rodrigue thanks to trades. When he lost his job, she became the breadwinner; she takes care of the food, pays for their children's tuitions, rent and her own expenses.
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