"Tanza" - About child soldiers but fails to touch on any of the issues surrounding the use of child soldiers in African wars. This is the worst of the short films. The acting is also very poor. The sentimentality based on an educated child soldier with a conscience doesn't seem to match reality at all.
(With regards to the previous comment about the use of English, the children speak Pidgin English which is a recognised world dialect and is realistically used by people from different tribes to communicate).
"Blue Gypsy" - A very lively and well produced short film. The depiction of the family of robbers is excellent. Most of the humour was very good, although a few jokes wore a bit thin (the conductor falling off the stage for example). The scene in the railway station is particularly good.
"Jesus Children of America" - One of the best of the short films depicting a child who may or may not have inherited AIDS from her parents. A very moving short film which deals with some of the issues in a sensitive manner.
"Bilu e João" - Probably the best of the short films. This deals with the lives of two children who work collecting garbage on the streets of Sao Paulo. The film's use of glossy imagery of the children contrasts against the harsh conditions they are living in. The use of well-off looking children as the street urchins helps show the disparity between rich and poor.
"Jonathan" - A rather confusing short film which has some nice scenes shot in English woods. The film deals with the games that children play. While most children play war games there are many children in the world that actually have to live through war.
"Ciro" - Set in Naples, two street urchins steal a rich man's watch and go on to sell it. The only help the children get is from the fence while the rest of society is arguing about who is to blame. Well shot film with some beautiful scenes.
"Song Song and Little Cat" - A horrible film using overblown 50's cinema techniques to deal with a cheesy plot. (Possibly and insult to 50's cinema).
Overall the compilation of short films is well put together and well worth seeing.
(With regards to the previous comment about the use of English, the children speak Pidgin English which is a recognised world dialect and is realistically used by people from different tribes to communicate).
"Blue Gypsy" - A very lively and well produced short film. The depiction of the family of robbers is excellent. Most of the humour was very good, although a few jokes wore a bit thin (the conductor falling off the stage for example). The scene in the railway station is particularly good.
"Jesus Children of America" - One of the best of the short films depicting a child who may or may not have inherited AIDS from her parents. A very moving short film which deals with some of the issues in a sensitive manner.
"Bilu e João" - Probably the best of the short films. This deals with the lives of two children who work collecting garbage on the streets of Sao Paulo. The film's use of glossy imagery of the children contrasts against the harsh conditions they are living in. The use of well-off looking children as the street urchins helps show the disparity between rich and poor.
"Jonathan" - A rather confusing short film which has some nice scenes shot in English woods. The film deals with the games that children play. While most children play war games there are many children in the world that actually have to live through war.
"Ciro" - Set in Naples, two street urchins steal a rich man's watch and go on to sell it. The only help the children get is from the fence while the rest of society is arguing about who is to blame. Well shot film with some beautiful scenes.
"Song Song and Little Cat" - A horrible film using overblown 50's cinema techniques to deal with a cheesy plot. (Possibly and insult to 50's cinema).
Overall the compilation of short films is well put together and well worth seeing.