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Favela Rising: A passionate tale of liberating Brazil’s slums

Favela Rising — a story of one man’s fight to rally his community to war against the violent oppression of teenage drug armies and corrupt police — is a must-see movie for anyone with a passion for South America.

The documentary, which has already won a string of awards from various film festivals across the world, charts the rise of Anderson Sa — a former drug trafficker turned revolutionary — and his ‘Afro-Reggae’ dance group in Rio de Janeiro’s most feared favela (or slum).

Haunted by the murders of his family and friends — the film points out that the drug wars in the favela claim around 10 times as many lives as the conflict in Palestine — Anderson Sa and his group set about uniting the community, and educating its youth through hip-hop, the rhythms of the street, and Afro-Brazilian dance.

As the liberation of the favela appears to be dawning, and Anderson’s grassroots movement reaches the height of its success, a surfing accident leaves Anderson quadraplegic and threatens to silence his movement forever.

There is some beautiful imagery in this artfully shot film (directed by Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Mocharty) and it manages to go beyond the almost voyeuristic qualities of many documentaries on the slums of South America. In following Anderson on his mission, the viewer is treated to a kaleidoscopic view of Brazil — from the horror of the drug massacres, to the vibrancy of the concerts, the energy of the drums and the arising sense of revolution Anderson stirs within the crowd.

In this way, the viewer is left with a feeling of genuine insight into the enormity of the deprivation suffered by the millions of favela residents, whilst being treated to an uplifting narrative of hope against the odds.

A fascinating and beautiful story that will command your attention from beginning to end.

King Leopold’s Ghost: Too much from professors, not enough from the people

Watching King Leopold’s Ghost feels a bit like being back at school being lectured to about something you know you really should care about.

The trouble is, this film doesn’t do enough to make you care.

It begins like a history lesson — giving you chapter and verse on the Belgian colonization of the Congo — an ego project for the greedy King Leopold of the title.

And it goes on to take you through more than a century of European and American exploitation of one of the richest (in terms of resources) and most beautiful countries in the world.

A couple of glimpses of modern day Congo show us the horrific conditions endured by miners digging up the latest western gold-dust —columbite-tantalite for cellphones.

But we see more professors than people and we hear more quotes from books than we do from the Congolese.

The problem is, the film never really gets its hands dirty. It’s hard to escape the notion that this is just someone reading a book to the camera.

It suffers by comparison to some of the visceral, challenging documentaries which trod similar ground, at least geographically, at the last film festival.

Listening to Don Cheadle tell us, in a somewhat patronizing voiceover, that people have got it bad in the Congo, is one thing.

Seeing a teenage ‘soldier’ ripping the heart out of his doomed victim as armed militia march on the capital — one of the most graphic scenes in last year’s hard hitting Liberia: An Uncivil War — is quite another.

Similarly Shake Hands with the Devil gave us a real human story of Roméo Dallaire the UN general who blamed himself for failing to prevent the genocide in Rwanda.

His emotional return to the land where almost a million people were slaughtered — on his watch — was powerful and full of pathos.

It didn’t matter how far removed you were from those conflicts, the movies drew you in.

It was impossible not to care. That’s what great filmmaking is all about.

King Leopold’s Ghost is an educational film with an important message.

But it’s got so little punch that you might just miss it.

China Blue: Stark glimpse of life as an exploited worker

If you want to be a moron, wear your blue jeans to this documentary about sweatshop practices at a denim factory in China.

China Blue follows Jasmine as she leaves her family’s farm to go earn big money at the Lifeng blue jeans factory.

The movie won an Amnesty International Award for it’s stark portrayal of what it’s really like for the average factory worker in China.

Jasmine works for Mr. Lam, a former police chief, who is able to afford a Mercedes Benz as he exploits his workers.

Jasmine and her new friends Orchid and Li Peng often have to work 14-15 hour days as they try to make the deadlines for various jean orders to France, Great Britain and the U.S.

Mr. Lam feels he is too soft on his employees as he gives then a ‘free midnight snack’ during their shift, which started at 8am that morning.

The workers only get paid once a month and out of that they have to pay back to Mr. Lam rent for a crowded dormitory space and for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

They also owe him money for every minute they are late for work or for any water used to wash clothes or their bodies.

The workers also get fined for sleeping on the job, which seems almost unavoidable considering the long hours they are on the job.

The documentary also shows negotiations with a British retailer, who whittles down Mr. Lam into selling his jeans for $4 a pair.

Tension reaches its high point when the staff threatens to strike because they haven’t been paid in over a month.

The film helps evoke sympathy for the factory employees, who have to put up with conditions those of us in the west would reject outright.

Rare Bird: A complex film of rare quality

Rare Bird, the feature length version of Linda Spurling’s previous short film of the same name that showed at BIFF last year, deserves to be watched by everyone living in Bermuda.

It’s hard not to be taken aback by the beauty of this documentary, which delves into the history of the Cahow, the bird’s virtual extinction, its subsequent Lazarus-like survival, and also the lives of those fighting to keep it in existence.

The film follows David Wingate and Jeremy Madeiros as the conservation officers who have been entrusted to look after the island’s most precious winged natural treasure, but it’s much more than just a wildlife documentary featuring scenes of beautiful Bermuda.

It’s also a lesson in Bermuda’s history with a moral that’s close to home for most Bermudians — at one part the film compares the Cahow to the Phoenix, which rises from the ashes at the time mankind is in danger.

The danger the film alludes to is the island’s ever-increasing population density that is one of the Cahow’s biggest hurdles to a viable existence.

It also entwines the Cahow’s fight for survival with the endearing personal story of David Wingate — an ornithologist who has done more for the Cahow’s survival than any other — and offers a unique glimpse into the motivation behind those that dedicate their lives to such a cause.

The film succeeds in bringing home the true gravity of the Cahow’s plight — there are some particularly harrowing moments following the arrival of hurricane Fabian where it’s made frighteningly clear how finely balanced the Cahow’s grip on life really is.

It also makes you kick yourself for never having visited Nonsuch Island (if you haven’t been yet that is). Apart from the beauty of the place, the film also tracks Mr. Wingate’s conversion of the island into a sort-of Noah’s ark for Bermuda’s wildlife.

Overcome any skepticism you may have and go and see Rare Bird — it would be no surprise if this film wins an award.

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