It was directed by Nathan Rissman and written, narrated, and produced by Madonna through her production company Semtex Films.

The film documents the lives of orphans in Malawi, where an estimated 500,000 children have lost parents to HIV and AIDS.

The film also shows the efforts with Madonna's charitable organisation Raising Malawi in helping with improving their lives and conditions.

A companion book containing 180 pages with 106 duotone and 44 four-color photographs taken during the visit, as well as stills from the video was released in January 2009.

[7] The title is derived from former archbishop of Cape Town and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu's speech regarding the African philosophy of Ubuntu.

In Chichewa, it is kali kokha nkanyama, tili awiri ntiwanthu (when you are on your own you are as good as an animal of the wild; when there are two of you, you form a community).”[9] The film received positive reviews in the media.

Certain scenes, such as women and children literally dying of AIDS in front of the camera, drew gasps from the shocked audience in the screening room at Cannes.