Screenings of award winning documentary on child labor in Bolivia to be held in D.C.
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 2, 2006
Basilio Vargas from “The Devil’s Miner”
Photo: Kief Davidson & Richard Ladkani / ITVS
Washington, D.C. – The Independent Television Service (ITVS), Maryland Public Television (MPT), WHUT, and the Social Action and Leadership School for Activists (SALSA) will co-present two special screenings of “The Devil’s Miner” in Washington D.C. in May. The screenings are free and open to the public.
The film is an award-winning documentary in Spanish with English subtitles about two brothers who work in the Cerro Rico mines of Bolivia. Living in poverty with their mother in the mountains of Bolivia, 14-year-old Basilio and his 12-year-old brother, Bernardino, work long shifts in the silver mines, braving deadly conditions to earn enough money to attend school.
The first screening is at the American Film Institute Silver Theatre at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2006. The second screening is at Busboys and Poets at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 21, 2006. Both screenings will be followed by a discussion with Oscar Ordenes, a Bolivian native and promoter of Latin American humanities in D.C., and Kevin Healy, adjunct assistant professor, International Affairs, The Elliott School.
The Devil’s Miner received Chicago Film Festival Silver Hugo Best Documentary, Woodstock Film Festival Best Documentary, Humanitarian Award Mexico City Festival, Fipresci Prize International Film Critic’s Award in Toronto, German Camera Award Special Mention and Jerusalem Film Festival Spirit of Freedom Award Best Documentary awards.
The film will premiere on PBS’s Independent Lens, the Emmy Award-winning series hosted by Edie Falco, at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. Independent Lens, an anthology series, features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films of independent producers. Independent Television Service (ITVS) funds and presents award-winning documentaries and dramas on public television, innovative new media projects on the Web and Independent Lens.
Yesterday night I saw this important documentary, I wonder if I can purchase a copy of it. Could you please sent details where to buy it?
Sincerely
Ana Adriazola-Rodriguez
Congratulations to you Steve and David! Well done for a great work. You have brought a problem and story that touches my heart and soul. My husband and I was brought to tears as we watched your PBS documentary I truly believe in your works for bringing out the “realities” that most of the world do not see and know. By showing us your fabulous work, you have made us all aware of the other part of the world that most of us would never have gone there before. To me, these children needs more of experiencing growing up, going to school, being with families and friends – the joys of living is a great part of our lives, you 2 have opened up our eyes to see the the truth of what greed can do to society where money is god and people specially children are there just to do the dirty work – unseen and unspoken of. David and Steve -you are the eyes and ears for the unseen children, you are their only hope of bettering these children, you are their sole consciousness. I feel happy and greatful for sharing your great works. I am truly touched, you are kings in the land of the oppressed and suppressed. You are unstopable! Please do more of what we do not know of, expose stories that changes lives for the better. Because of you, for every human being you have helped and touched their life they can sleep a lot better, makes a better world !
Thank you so much and I send you all my love.
Sincerely . . . ALexia
I am teaching my high school students about the plight of the mining children in Bolivia. Is there anyway we could show this documentary at our school or public library? How do I go about it? This would be an important learning opportunity.
Thanks,
Annabelle Marquez
Rockland District High School
Maine