The other two...

The other two documentaries - one called Born Into Brothels directed by photojournalist Zana Brinsky is about the children of sex workers in Sonagachi, Calcutta's famous red light district. Zana has been working in Sonagachi for over 3 years and this movie is a culmination of her efforts to teach photography to a group of about ten children. She also valiantly campaigns to remove these children from their situation and enroll them in schools, a process which involves not only advocating their cause with school authorities (who would much rather not have prostitute's children spoil their reputation amongst their largely unctuous middle-class students and families) but also spending hours discussing and convincing the parents or guardians of these children that education in an environment removed from their current one is indeed a desirable option for them. In the end, there are a few things that stand out from this film in my mind. Firstly, of course, that the middle-class, who are the primary clientele for the sex workers, choose to completely shut them out and deny their existence when it comes to admission to schools or getting identity cards for the children. The second thing was that despite Zana's best efforts and intentions and after having secured seats for many of the children against overwhelming odds, two or three years down the line, all these children are out of these residential schools and back where they were. Some left of their own volition and others were pulled out by their guardians. It is not only about placing these children there but that there is a continuous process of reinforcement that is required and that requires a movement beyond the compassion of one individual, perhaps. Finally, the pictures that these children take. There is spontaneity. There is unbridled enthusiasm when Zana takes them out for shooting trips to the zoo or to Digha. Aveejeet, a sensitive young boy, speaks perceptively about photographs. He is also the rebelious one. Finally, he is chosen to go to an international exhibition of child photographers. There is some hope there - some way to cut through the barriers of conventional education and learning to achieve something substantial and to find some recognition through a modern and yet more easily acccessible art form.

Lastly, Michael Moore's Roger and Me. A soulful account of the loss of jobs in Flint, Michigan when GM decided to move manufacturing to "harness" Mexico's cheap 70 cents an hour. Michael Moore is like a terrier. He plugs away at something with a maniacal obsession when he sets his mind to it. In this case, he wants to meet the GM CEO, Roger Smith and confront him with the decisions that he has made to move jobs out of Flint. He follows him across the country and his thwarted at every step - by "security" at the GM headquarters, by curt staff at "Members Only" exclusive clubs that Roger Smith is a member of. He even poses as a GM stock holder and enters a general body meeting of stock holders but alas, even as he stands up to ask a question they end the meeting. Moore has an unequivocal stance as always - that people matter over profits, that GM and Roger Smith owe an explanation to the city of Flint and its residents for leaving them high and dry in this manner.