Children | THE LABOR FILM DATABASE

The Son (2002)

103m; Belguim

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Cast: Olivier Gourmet, Morgan Marinne and Isabella Soupart

Synopsis (IMDB): Olivier – meticulous, careful, even-handed – teaches carpentry at a vocational school in Liège. He’s asked to take on Francis, 16, a new student. He declines the request then begins to watch, even spy on, the new lad. Olivier knows something. Later that day, he’s visited by Magali, his ex-wife, who tells him that she’s remarrying and is pregnant. Olivier seems to follow instinctive responses: “why today?” he demands of Magali; he continues to follow Francis; he changes his mind about enrolling the youth. What’s the history between the two? After that becomes clear, what is it Olivier will do? Is this precise and measured carpenter in control of himself?

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Construction Trades, Drama, Education

Starkiss: Circus Girls in India (2003)

07 May

77m; Netherlands/India

Director: Jascha de Wilde, Chris Relleke

Synopsis (IMDB): This documentary provides an interesting look at the life of young girls (as young as 7)who are basically sold to the circus as performers. Some parent’s, having received advances on their daughter’s contracts, abandon them for years. Others, pay occasional visits to their daughters, often coming for another advance. The girls are basically jailed, unable to communicate with anyone other than their trainers and guard. A well done documentary providing some really poignant shots and candid interviews.

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Documentary, Entertainment Industry

Steel City (2006)

07 May

95m; U.S.

Director: Brian Jun

Cast: Jamie Anne Allman, Raymond J. Barry and Kristian Best

Synopsis (IMDB): Steel City is a stirring family drama from the heartland of America about pride, remorse and forgiveness. When Carl Lee is involved in a fatal car accident he finds himself behind bars, cut off from his life and alienated by his family. His youngest son PJ, confused by life without his dad, is the only person to visit him. While PJ’s girlfriend stays lovingly by his side and his Uncle Vic extends a helping hand, a belligerent older brother and the reality of being on his own force PJ to grow up faster than he’d like. It’s not until a devastating secret is revealed that the family reunites and a regretful father learns that you can never take back the past, but you can let go of it.

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Drama, Working Class

Stolen Childhoods (2005)

07 May

85m; Various

Director: Len Morris & Robin Romano

Cast: Meryl Streep (narrator)

Synopsis: Stolen Childhoods is a feature length documentary on global child labor.

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Documentary, Global Economy

Sugar Cane Alley (1983)

07 May

103m; France

Director: Euzhan Palcy

Cast: Garry Cadenat, Darling Légitimus and Douta Seck

Synopsis (IMDB): Martinique, in the early 1930s. Young José and his grandmother live in a small village. Nearly everyone works cutting cane and barely earning a living. The overseer can fine a worker for the smallest infraction. The way to advance is to do well in school. José studies hard and succeeds in an exam allowing him to attend school in the capital. With only a partial scholarship, the tuition is very costly. José and his grandmother move to Fort-de-France to make José’s studies easier.

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Drama, Education, Farm & Food

The Day My God Died (2003)

07 May

70m;

Director: Andrew Levine

Synopsis: Filmed in Nepal and India this documentary presents the stories of young girls whose lives have been shattered by the child sex slave trade. The film provides actual footage from inside the brothels of Bombay, known even to the tourists as “The Cages,” captured with “spy camera” technology. The documentary also introduces the heroes of the movement who are working to abolish child sex slavery and who remind us that, “these are our daughters.”

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Documentary, Global Economy, Sex Industry/Sexuality

The Hedgehog (2009)

07 May

100m; France

Director: Mona Achache

Cast: Josiane Balasko, Garance Le Guillermic and Togo Igawa

Synopsis (IMDB): Paloma is a serious and highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she questions and documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her building’s grumpy janitor and an enigmatic, elegant neighbor, both of whom inspire Paloma to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life.

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on May 7, 2012 in Children, Drama, Philosophy, Working Class

Ratcatcher (1999)

26 Apr

94m; U.K.

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Cast: Tommy Flanagan, Mandy Matthews and William Eadie

Synopsis (IMDB): Glasgow, summer, 1973. Dustmen are striking; bags of garbage add to the blight of council flats and a fetid canal. Ryan, who’s about 12, drowns during a play fight with his neighbor, the jug-eared James. James runs home, a flat where he lives with his often-drunk da, his ma, and sisters, who live in hope of moving to newly-built council flats. The slice-of-life, coming-of-age story follows James as he tags along with the older lads; has a friendship with his quirky wee rodent-loving neighbor, Kenny; spends time with Margaret Anne, myopic, slightly older, the local sexual punching bag; and, has a moment or two of joy. The strike may end, but is there any way out for James?

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on April 26, 2012 in Children, Drama, Strikes-Strikebreaking-Lockouts

Raven’s End (1963)

26 Apr

101m; Sweden

Director: Bo Widerberg

Cast: Thommy Berggren, Keve Hjelm and Emy Storm

Synopsis: Portrait of working class youth. Portrays family life in Malmo, Sweden in 1930s, tracing relations between an adolescent boy and his father.

Leave a comment

Posted by Metro Council on April 26, 2012 in Children, Drama, Working Class