3 NEEDLES

Year: 2005
USA: Covington USA
Cast: Shawn Ashmore, Stockard Channing, Tanabadee Choppikultong, Isabelle Cyr, Olympia Dukakis, Lucy Liu, Sook-Yin Lee, Sandra Oh, Ian Roberts, Chloe Sevigny, Anele Aolwandle, Mabel Adams, Cory Bowles, Aubert Pallascio, Marc Trottier, Alwyn van den Heever, Aroon Wanatsabadeewong, Thantokazi Guili, Bryan Hofbauer, Siv Mbelu, William Mtakati, Nancy Nomankantsh, Akarin Tungboriboonkit, Steven Crowder, Simone-Elise Girard, Wentahawi Dionne-Elijah, Thierry Fargeau, Roc LaFortune, Gary Farmer, Jessie Gabe, Tyson Hall, Chin Han, Ian Sternthal, Li Li
Director: Thom Fitzgerald
Country: Canada
Languages: English / Mandarin / Xhosi / French / Afrikaans (English subtitles)
USA: 127 mins
USA Release Date: 1 December 2006 (Limited Release)


Synopsis

3 NEEDLES tells the moving story of how the harshest tragedy can sometimes bring out the best in people. People all over the world struggle to sustain their spirits in the face of a deadly epidemic.

In China
When Jin Ping (Lucy Liu) sets up her mobile blood collection service in a tiny farming village, the local peasants rejoice and prosper. When one farmer, Tong Sam (Tanabadee Choppikultong), is barred from selling his blood because he has the flu, he lies about his daughter's age so she can sell blood twice a month in his stead. Sam uses the money to improve his humble farm but by the time his abundant crop is ready for harvest, his wife and daughter are both mysteriously dead. Sam sets out on a journey across the province to find out why.

In Canada
Denys (Shawn Ashmore) is a second rate porn actor who loves to pretend to be anybody but himself. When Denys gets caught cheating on his blood tests, his poverty-stricken family is thrown into turmoil and his weary waitress mother hatches a fraud scheme to solve their money problems forever.

In South Africa
Living among the tribes on the Wild Coast, Novice missionary Clara's (Chloe Sevigny) mission is to urge the dying Africans to accept Jesus before it's too late. Naive and optimistic, Clara strays from her mission and struggles to help raise a family of orphaned children. When one of her charges falls victim to a folk cure, she makes a bargain with Mr. Hallyday (Ian Roberts), a wealthy Afrikaans plantation owner, which aids the children but risks her own salvation.