Back in the 1980s, the late Desmond Wilcox produced a number of TV documentaries tracking the tragic tale of David Lopez, a child from the Peruvian jungle who, thanks to malnutrition, contracted a devastating disease that left him horrifically disfigured. His saviour was Glaswegian plastic surgeon and adopted father Ian Jackson who, over several years, built him a new face. This film is a re-cut compilation of the six award-winning programmes, with an extra bit catching up with the now 28 year-old David.
While this is a powerfully moving story, the film itself is less satisfying, saddled with an at times patronising score and the inevitable clunkiness of its '80s footage. That said, it's impossible not to be affected by David's bravery. It'll play better, however, on the small screen where it belongs.