Production Information: Morris, L.(2003). Stolen Childhoods. DVD. Galen Films, Massachusetts.
Plot Summary: Stolen Childhoods is a documentary on global child labor. This documentary was filmed in seven countries: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal and the United States. Children and parents from each country tell their stories of why they are victims of child labor. In India children are chained and beaten 13 hours a day working in the carpet industry. As a result, many of these children have spinal deformities and poor eyesight. Child prostitution in Mexico is rampant. The children in Mexico who are forced to work in the tobacco fields have a higher incidence of getting cancer because of their exposure to pesticides. Many migrant child laborers are U.S. citizens making much less than minimum wage.
Critical Evaluation: Stolen Childhoods is not for the fainthearted. Despite the despair the viewer feels for the children, this production gives the viewer hope. For example, in Brazil a program was set up to pay children to go to school so they don't have to work. Stolen Childhoods is very informative and presents an overview of a topic that needs to be addressed and eliminated.
Annotation: Throughout the world, 248 million children under the age of 14 are forced to labor. Their lives are nothing but work.
About the Producer/Director: Len Morris is in creative partnership with Georgia Morris for Galen Films Inc. Len has previously worked as a film producer and editor at ABC News and 20/20. Galen Films was established 25 years ago. This documentary production company focuses on films that lead to social change. Galen Films has produced Stolen Children and Rescuing Emmanuel.
Genre: Non-fiction human rights
Curriculum Ties: Economics, Humanities, Social Science
Talking Points: Are you looking for an excellent documentary for your Humanities Class, one that deals with child labor throughout the world? Child labor is the last form of slavery. In Stolen Childhoods the economics of child labor is fully presented.
Interest Age: 15 and up
Challenge Issues: None, as long as it is viewed by teens and older.
Reason for Inclusion: The film deals with a subject that is dreadful, but real. It concerns humanity and economics and stimulates the desire for social change.
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