Mully

Mully is a straightforward and positive retelling of the life of Kenyan Charles Mulli, who rose from being an abandoned street orphan to wealth and prosperity. He then shocks his well-to-do family, when he sells all, and throws his family into a life dedicated to helping abandoned Kenyan children. The trials and success of that effort are more astounding than his previous rise to wealth.

This is a heartwarming and inspirational story put together from brief re-enactments along with family movies, footage documenting the development of the Mully Children's Family institution, and interviews. The mix of approaches works well in building and telling the story without undue drama. The story is greatly bolstered by the attractive and charismatic screen presence of Charles Mulli himself. He comes across as inspiring, but moreover as inspired. Beyond the great care he shows for the children, the manner in which his non-profit foundation develops and thrives is truly visionary.

The story moves forward in a fairly earnest manner - efficient in its hour and 21 minutes. A scripted and acted version of the story would almost certainly dwell more deeply into the drama of Mulli's personal life.

I think this telling is not overtly religious. While Mulli receives his own personal inspiration while listening to a preacher, he leaves trusting the inspiration, if not the preacher himself. While Mulli frequently mentions God, and there are couple of mildly miraculous scenes, There is no direct religious message. While strongly religious viewers may indeed find "proof" within this movie, the movie seems to me somewhat restrained in that regard and not too in-your-face for those not so inclined. I say that mainly to convey that this inspiring, positive movie is well worth your time, regardless of your orientation.

At the age of 63, this is beyond any doubt the most inspiring documentary I have ever witnessed. Regardless of one's faith, or without, the result is undeniable of how a man who gives up all of his wealth and comfort, can come through with nothing short of miraculous. It made me wonder, with all the exposure of the likes of the Gates foundation etc., how the impact and genius of Mully has changed the conditions with such an incredible impact on his country. The progression of his resentful children to support and eventual full involvement in their Father's passion, is a story with much meaning for us to ponder.

This is a documentary of a man who had an episode of insight and moved wherever that vision took him. While watching the documentary it's difficult to believe one man and his immediate family achieved so very much.

I feel sure that a great deal of the journey was left out of the story-- such as sourcing and donations for survival needs that must have helped fund his work. The super-engineered greenhouses weren't built from sketched designs and animal skins. The tractors and trucks and equipment and seed and millions of seedling trees didn't just appear out of nowhere. One can't help but feel that this documentary falls far short of telling the whole story.

Regardless of how it was achieved, this is a man who gave everything he had to accomplish something most of us would think is impossible: turning a desert into a self-sustaining farm and hopeless street children into PHDs and Doctors and business people and responsible husbands and wives. I am not easily taken in by such documentaries, often seeing the sham behind the hype. But in this case, everything I've managed to read about Mulli (Mully) seems correct. This is a man who remembered his humble beginnings and turned his love of people to action. I simply cannot imagine.

The documentary while somewhat scanty on details, focuses on the overall trials and final results of Mully-and-family's efforts. I would have liked to have seen it extended a half an hour and include a few more how-it-happened details. It covered his religious affiliation and dedication, but didn't dwell on such. It showed his achievements, but didn't tell much about he achieved them. The overall effect-- and apparent purpose of the film-- was to show what one person can do to change the world. But at the same time, one has difficulty believing all of this came about through the efforts of one family. Much is obviously omitted.

At first it was Mully himself with the sole vision. But as it states in the documentary, his wife supported him every step of the way. His own family went through some tough times (primarily due to Mully himself), but eventually as they grew his children joined him and were of great help in achieving his vision-- and themselves benefited from the personal growth gained from their experience.

I did have problems with his obvious obsessions. On the one hand one can understand his deep compassion for homeless children. On the other hand I could only grimace at his lack of compassion for his own wife and children, putting their welfare at risk and even sending his children to boarding school to make room for others rather than showing more wise moderation and supporting his own children's emotional needs. These were questionable decisions. Where does one draw the line between empathy and obsessive madness? That's a question that lingers in my mind long after viewing this documentary.

Regardless, this film is inspiring, and proves that even a small group of people can accomplish amazing things. While rescuing thousands of children over several years hardly puts a dent in the devastating circumstances of millions of street children-- at least Mully and his family have done their best. They've set the example and proved what can be done. If all humankind focused less on themselves and more on helping others, perhaps similar results could have been achieved on a global basis rather than the ecological and social disasters we are currently experiencing.

I give it no more than 7 stars because as a documentary-- it obviously leaves a great deal out of the story.

I loved this film. Everyone should see it. If you don't believe in a "higher power" this should convince you that not only does one exist but He is there as He says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. The media doesn't tell us stories like these, because they don't want people to know how God works in your life if you let Him and when you cooperate, your reward is pure joy! This film is suitable for every age and every taste. It's suspenseful; it's funny; it's uplifting and it will make you ponder what you have been wasting your own life doing. Truth is much stranger (and more wonderful) than fiction. I hope the whole world joins the Mully family.

If this movie had been fiction everyone would say it was too far-fetched. Truth is stranger than fiction. This is one of the most inspiring stories I have ever seen.