Innocence Abandoned: Street Kids of Haiti FILM THREAT’S TOP FILMS OF 2013

FILM THREAT’S TOP FILMS OF 2013

Our writers see so many films over the course of the year, not just the theatrical-friendly, critically revered and/or festival-darling fare, that our choices for the best films of the year can be all over the place. Still, each year we submit our lists and see what shakes out. Some writers have simply listed their picks, some didn’t respond and others have written more… much more. Is there an overall Top Ten consensus to be had from all of this? Not quite…

Utilizing the films chosen by our writers in either the best overall films, or in their subcategories of best narrative and documentary films, we’ve compiled 8 films that were on enough lists to be considered the Top Films of 2013, with an additional 18 films listed more than once, and therefore worthy of an Honorable Mention.

That said, please don’t stop at only the top two lists, but explore the individual writers’ picks, as there are far more films worth checking out. Here’s the overall Top Films of 2013 and Honorable Mentions followed by, in alphabetical order by writer, the individual picks for their Top Films of 2013…

Read more: http://www.filmthreat.com/features/73426/#ixzz2ozxY93N5


Phil Hall

• The Book of Jane. Antero Alli’s profound drama on the friendship between an enigmatic homeless woman and an emotionally brittle professor offers a wealth of challenges to subjects ranging from gender empowerment to emotional attachment.
• Charulata – The retro release of this year is this long-overdue restored version of Satyajit Ray’s 1964 classic about a sheltered woman’s rocky journey to intellectual and emotional self-determination. The Criterion Collection, which released this film on DVD and Blu-ray, deserves special praise for making this and other long-unseen films by Ray’s available to a new generation of film lovers.
• 55 Socks – Animator Co Hoedeman brings uncommon sensitivity to this adaptation of the Marie Jacobs poem on survival during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

• Innocence Abandoned: Street Kids of Haiti – Young Man Kang’s documentary offers a harrowing view of how seemingly benevolent nonprofits have exploited orphaned boys in today’s Haiti.

• Isolated – Justin LePera’s remarkable documentary follows a group of carefree surfers whose search for the perfect wave takes them to the Indonesian territory of West Papua – and into an unexpected political minefield.
• Kiburi – Justin Melillo created this short, sweet, irresistible 3D animated film about a lost lion cub befriended by a family of fireflies.
• The Loss – Turkish filmmaker Mete Sozer crafted a wonderful short film that questions whether time actually heals all wounds.
• The Painter – Thomas K. Delson helmed this wonderfully eerie short drama about a housepainter who turns psychotic following his role in a violent love triangle. Needless to say, the painter’s approach to home decoration will not be seen on HGTV.
• Protector of the Kingdom – Kelly DiMauro’s short drama on the heated confrontation between a reckless teenager and her beleaguered stepmother was fueled with an intensity and maturity that too often lacking in many contemporary indie films.
• Real Change – Adam Michael Becker’s documentary short on the lives of homeless men in Seattle offers a poignant and disturbing view of contemporary poverty.

Read more: http://www.filmthreat.com/features/73426/#ixzz2ozxiS9Jh

KOREAN DIRECTOR WRAPS UP EPIC JOURNEY TO HAITI

KOREAN DIRECTOR WRAPS UP EPIC JOURNEY TO HAITI  강영만 감독 아이티 거리의 아이들 다큐 영화 기사  아이티 거리의 아이들 다큐영화  2013/06/20 11:25  수정  삭제 http://blog.naver.com/perryjerry77/10170711238 전용뷰어 보기 이 포스트를 보낸곳 (1)  WORD FROM THE R.O.K FILM, POP CULTURE AND A SLICE OF LIFE IN KOREA http://wftrok.com/2013/06/20/korean-director-wraps-up-epic-journey-to-haiti/ KOREAN DIRECTOR WRAPS UP EPIC JOURNEY TO HAITI June 20, 2013 by David Oxenbridge When Director KANG Young-man was filming his documentary Innocence Abandoned, about the plight of street kids in Haiti, things were bad enough. The country was awash with many young men, who were abandoned, orphaned, begging and even boys as young as 5 selling drugs. In such a violent, harsh society many themselves had turned to violence and some were even sold as slaves. As happens in documentary making, narrative direction can change and in this case to a much darker place. The documentary makers uncovered the motives of some of those would-be-angels who on the outside were there to apparently help the children. Darker truths and corruption emerged in the mix that set the documentary on a new path. However, the 2010, January 12 earthquake proved to be the real game changer pulling the filmmakers from their post production work and back to Haiti to tell an even more dramatic story. What originally was supposed to be a short documentary became an epic journey, 12years in the making. As Director KANG explains, the crew developed a connection with the kids that has lasted until today. The documentary, released in January of this year, has since gone onto receive the Monaco Charity Film Festival 2013 Human Interest Award. The director himself is nothing short of prolific. Moving to the U.S from Korea, KANG Young-man became a commercial director shooting over 50 works as well as short films and several features includingThe Last Eve (2005) which won The Best Action Feature Film award at the 2005 New York International Independent film and  Video Festival. In addition to working in Korea, Singapore and Japan he also directed the animated series Kimchi Warrior(2011).  Innocence Abandoned: Street Kids of Haiti is a Leapfrog Productions project and was produced by Dennis James Lee and Tomiko Ok Lee. The film will open in limited theatres this year in Korea, China and the U.S.

INNOCENCE ABANDONED: STREET KIDS OF HAITI - FILM THREAT review

INNOCENCE ABANDONED: STREET KIDS OF HAITI

Year Released: 2013 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 75 minutes Click to Expand Credits:

In 2001, Young Man Kang directed the documentary short “Haitian Slave Children: Forgotten Angels,” which detailed a little-known human rights crisis in Haiti. This new feature-length documentary picks up the story a decade later – and, sadly, there is no good news to be found.

The film returns to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince to find several of child orphans from the first documentary grown up and trying to run their own orphanages. These young men have more enthusiasm and goodwill than managerial talent – their orphanages are badly financed and offer little except bare-bones shelter. One attempt to build a new orphanage building in the Haitian countryside immediately collapses due to ridiculously poor planning.

More troubling are accusations leveled against an American orphanage operator that was profiled in the first film – in this production, several of the former residents of the orphanage accuse their American benefactor of being a child molester. Incredibly, one of the young Haitian orphanage operators that leads these charges admits to funding his operation by selling photographs of the boys in his care to a pedophile in Illinois.

This film was shot in late 2009, but production was extended into 2010 following the horrific earthquake that devastated Haiti. Needless to say, the earthquake did the impossible: it made a hopelessly tragic situation infinitely worse. Port-au-Prince was severely damaged, with most of its population forced to live in make-shift shelters in unsanitary situations. International relief aid failed to reach many Haitians – and at one point, the film’s director provides medical assistance to injured children on the street. Indeed, things were so dire that some communities sought to stave off famine by eating cookies made from a mixture of mud and cooking oil.

Although the film has a couple of wobbles – interviews with prosperous Haitian immigrants in the U.S. add relatively little to the proceedings, and the charges of child molestation against the American orphanage operator are never properly resolved – it nonetheless offers a bleak view of a social catastrophe that shows no signs of improving. This is one of the year’s most disturbing non-fiction features.

Read more: http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/70494/#ixzz2oztQFB5y

본문(영어)와 한글번역

In 2001, Young Man Kang directed the documentary short “Haitian Slave Children: Forgotten Angels,” which detailed a little-known human rights crisis in Haiti.
2001년 강영만 감독은 "아이티 거리의 아이들"이라는 다큐멘터리 영화를 통해 아이티의 잘 알려지지 않은 인권문제를 자세히 묘사했다.

This new feature-length documentary picks up the story a decade later – and, sadly, there is no good news to be found.
이 새로운 장편 다큐멘터리는 10년 동안의 이야기를 담고 있다-슬프게도 그동안의 좋은 소식은 없다.

The film returns to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince to find several of child orphans from the first documentary grown up and trying to run their own orphanages.
이 영화는 처음 다큐를 찍을때 고아원에 있었던 아이들이 성장하여 자신들의 고아원을 운영하는 모습을 찍기위해 아이티 수도인 포르트프랭스로 돌아간다.

These young men have more enthusiasm and goodwill than managerial talent – their orphanages are badly financed and offer little except bare-bones shelter.
이 젊은이들은 관리의 재능보다는 더 많은 열정과 선의를 가지고 있다-그들의 고아원은 심한 재정상의 문제가 있고 허름한 피난처 이외에는 제공해주는 것이 거의 없다.

One attempt to build a new orphanage building in the Haitian countryside immediately collapses due to ridiculously poor planning.
아이티 외곽에 새로운 고아원을 짓고자하는 시도는 곧 형편없는 관리로 무너져버린다.

More troubling are accusations leveled against an American orphanage operator that was profiled in the first film – in this production, several of the former residents of the orphanage accuse their American benefactor of being a child molester.
더 심한것은 영화 첫부분에 소개된 미국인 고아원 운영자에 대한 혐의이다-이 영화에서 그 고아원에 있었던 사람들이 그들의 미국인 후원자를 아동 성추행범으로 고발한다.

Incredibly, one of the young Haitian orphanage operators that leads these charges admits to funding his operation by selling photographs of the boys in his care to a pedophile in Illinois.
믿을수 없게도, 이러한 일들에 책임이 있는 젊은 고아원 운영자들 중 한명이 그의 기관의 후원금을위해 일리노이주에 있는 소아성애자에게 자신이 보살피고 있는 소년들의 사진을 판 사실을 인정한다.

This film was shot in late 2009, but production was extended into 2010 following the horrific earthquake that devastated Haiti.
이 영화는 2009년 후반기에 찍었으나, 2010년 아이티를 황폐화시킨 끔찍한 지진으로 영화는 더 연장되었다.

Needless to say, the earthquake did the impossible: it made a hopelessly tragic situation infinitely worse.
당연히 그 지진은 끔찍했다. 비극적인 상황을 영원히 더 악화시켰다.

Port-au-Prince was severely damaged, with most of its population forced to live in make-shift shelters in unsanitary situations.
포르트프랭스 도시가 심하게 손상되어 주민들은 불결한 환경 속에서 이동가능한 피난처를 만들어 살 수 밖에 없었다.

International relief aid failed to reach many Haitians – and at one point, the film’s director provides medical assistance to injured children on the street.
국제구호원조는 많은 아이티인들을 돕지못했고, 어떤때는 강영만 감독이 길거리에서 다친 아이들을 치료해 주었다.

Indeed, things were so dire that some communities sought to stave off famine by eating cookies made from a mixture of mud and cooking oil.
사실, 상황이 너무 좋지않아서 어떤 곳에서는 진흙과 식용유를 섞어만든 진흙쿠키를 먹으면서 간신히 굶주림을 면하는 방법을 찾는 곳도 있다.

Although the film has a couple of wobbles – interviews with prosperous Haitian immigrants in the U.S. add relatively little to the proceedings, and the charges of child molestation against the American orphanage operator are never properly resolved – it nonetheless offers a bleak view of a social catastrophe that shows no signs of improving.
이 영화가 약간의 동요가 있음에도 불구하고-미국에서 성공한 아이티 이민자들과의 인터뷰는 영화흐름과는 거의 연관성이 없고, 미국인 고아원 운영자의 아동 성추행에 대한 혐의가 전혀 해결되지않았다는 점- 그럼에도불구하고 그것은 개선의 여지가 보이지않는 사회 참사의 암울한 면을 보여준다.

This is one of the year’s most disturbing non-fiction features.
이영화는 올해 가장 충격적인 논픽션 영화 중 하나이다.  

Haitian Street Kid's Hope - Wilner Story

Wilner Story

Ten years ago, Wilner St Fort, was begging for food and change on the
streets of Port au Prince Haiti. He was one of thousands who live day by day in a
unchanging harsh environment. Living in a hell, not of his own choice. He was a
street kid. The neglected abused children of Haiti. One day while sleeping under a
car next to the tires, the unaware driver entered the car and started the engine.
A screeching cry could be heard from blocks away. The vehicle had run over both
Wilner’s legs. The driver speed away. He was alone in pain abandoned by his
parents and left to die on the streets. But that wasn’t the end for Wilner St Fort.
With all the strength and courage he could muster he prayed to God to save him.
He curled himself into a corner and laid in the same position for two days.
Miraculously he walked away to fight another day. He eventually landed in a
orphanage where he was sheltered for the next five years.
Today he runs his own make-shift orphanage located in the upper hill of Port
au Prince. He treks to Belle Fontaine every other day to bring food and clothing to
the five street kids he has taken under his wings. His wish is to build a shelter for
his orphans and to bring more kids from the streets.
Wilner is just starting his orphanage and is looking forward to meeting more
sponsors in the near future through the non-profit organization, LOVE GIVE HOPE.
This group is also producing a documentary based on his life that is set to released
late 2009. He hopes that his story can bring those who are compassionate to his
cause, the Haitian street/Slave children. His hopes, dreams and faith are
captured in this documentary.

Child Slave, Wendell's Song (16 years old) Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Wendell's Story

Wendell, a 16 years old blind (Restavec) slave child is working on the streets begging strangers for money for his master.
He had been on the street for most of his life. His story is one that is remarkable for his self endurance yet tragic at the same time. His tale is common amongst the street kids of Haiti.

This teenager boy was a regular on the streets. He sings songs about his desire to have a mother and father to provide for him.
He is a very nice and intelligent boy. He sings very well and plays the maraca to accompany his vocals. Wendell mentioned that originally he had a guitar but it was stolen from someone one day. Someone asked to play it and he promised to give it back but just walked away with the guitar.

Wendell has no family but this one woman who is his master. He calls her 'aunt', but shes not related to him at all. Early in his childhood he was sold to his aunt who resides in the slums and she taught him to beg. Hes been working for her since.
Day to day Wendells out there singing for any spare change he could get from the public and then she would then collect the money after hes worked all day.
He's always barefoot because she doesn't consider shoes a necessity. 'Aunt' feeds him once per day and lets him sleep in the back of her house where people would urinate and defecate. Wendell's home is in one of the absolutely worst areas of the slums. Its is in the most violent and dangerous area of Cite Soleil, named La Saline.

Later in the day our film crew took Wendell to our hotel room to give him a quick shower and a bite to eat. He seemed anxious and wished to return to his street corner so he can beg for money. He didn't want to get in trouble with his owner.

From Documentary 'Haitian Street Kids Revisited'
A Young Man Kang Film