Videos or Movies of Tough Living Conditions in U.S. and Around the World ?

[mamalatte]

I'd like to share with my kids some videos or movies that show the tough living conditions many people both in the U.S. and in other parts of the world have to live in, e.g., homeless, no running water, living in shacks/tents, living on the street, not enough to eat, no medical care, kids have to work and/or can't go to school. Or, even how people in other parts of the world who do not consider themselves "poor" get by with so many fewer belongings than we do here in the U.S. -- there is an awesome picture book called "Material World" on this topic which I highly recommend, but don't know of any videos/movies along the same line . . .

Any ideas? Kids are elementary school age. We hope to practice more Gratitude in the New Year and this is one part of that. :)

[Rogar]

One that I really liked and would seem to fit your desires exactly is called "God Grew Tired of Us". It is rated PG. This is the Netflix summary,

"After raising themselves in the desert along with thousands of other "lost boys," Sudanese refugees John, Daniel and Panther have found their way to America, where they experience electricity, running water and supermarkets for the first time. Capturing their wonder at things Westerners take for granted, this documentary, an award winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, paints an intimate portrait of strangers in a strange land."

[Bootsie]

This is a short video about kids/teens who live in a slum built on a landfill:
http://news.linktv.org/videos/harmonic-landfill-paraguay-kids-make-orchestra-out-of-trash

[lhamo]

I haven't seen it yet, but have heard very good things about the documentary "The Last Train Home" -- it is about a migrant worker couple in China going back to their home village to see their family/kids for the first time in several years. Might provoke some interesting discussion about what kinds of sacrifices people in China have to make in order for us to have our cheap consumer goods.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1512201/

The Tibetan director Pema Tseten (sometimes spelled Pema Tseden) has made a few films that provide local insight into contemporary life in Tibet that goes beyond the typical sterotypes. I'm not sure if any of them are available here, though. Here is a link to an NPR story about him:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106089201

Closer to home, I caught the tail end of "Waiting for Superman" a couple of weeks ago and found it very moving. Good chance to talk about what it means to have access to a good education in our country, and how many young people are disadvantaged from the start due to where they grow up (though it is obviously really pro-charter school).

Slumdog Millionaire is another possibility, though the violence might be disturbing for young kids. I have heard very good things about Katherine Boo's book about life in the Mumbai slums, as well -- Beyond the Beautiful Forevers is the title, I think.

[catherine]

One of my VERY FAVORITE movies, but hard to find: The Dollmaker: Here it is on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=021jNReJXDQ

[lhamo]

Oh, Story of the Weeping Camel is also a lovely film about life in a fast-changing Mongolia. Kids play a major role in the file, and that might make it more attractive to your kids.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373861/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

[Square Peg]

I have been thinking of doing this with my kids as well, so thanks for starting the thread.

[pony mom]

I was going to suggest Slumdog Millionaire as well, but it may be a bit too mature for kids their age. Great movie though.

[Stella]

The Human Experience is one my elementary kids got a lot out of. It's on Netflix.

[Stella]

Also, although only one of the kids is really living impoverished, the movie Babies stuck with them. The little African baby had very little stuff, but lots of family. That resonated with them. I might have to check out the ones the others suggested too. My kids find that kind of stuff interesting. After they watched The Human Experience the slept on the floor for a few days in an attempt at solidarity with the homeless.

[Tradd]

Search for "A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains" on YouTube. I couldn't find it on ABC's website. A few years back, the 20/20 program had this piece on Appalachia. Eye opener. I didn't realize about the Mountain Dew addiction!

First part on YouTube: http://youtu.be/syUwFmYeSVw

Just found it on ABC's website: http://abc.go.com/watch/2020/SH559026/VD55110019/a-hidden-america-children-of-the-mountains

[sweetana3]

I agree with the poster that mentioned the Material World. It would be a great photography book to discuss with kids and to have them look at to discover all kinds of things. I mean, you could compare the family in Africa to America or Japan or ....... I loved it. There are a couple of these books. I think one was Women of the Material World and it was good for kids.

I just went to Amazon.com and found a bunch of these books. There is one for kids too. You can look inside to see if the topics and format is what you are interested in but I think these would be great reading and discussion books for a family. I would buy them along with an atlas.

[Rosemary]

Companion book to Material World - Hungry Planet is also fascinating too. Shows families in many countries and the food they would eat in 1 week. Compare the American family with a table full of frozen pizzas and bottles of soda to the African family with a bag of millet and a bag of lentils. There can't be many picky eaters in an environment such as that.

[Lainey]

I liked the show aired on PBS Frontline, especially because it's mostly the words of the children in the family. These are U.S. families.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poor-kids/

[mamalatte]

Thanks for the great suggestions, all! I am slowing pre-viewing them all before sharing with the kids. Loved The Human Experience (although I think I might skip the opening sequence which was kind of violent compared to the rest of the movie). Children of the Mountains was so sad and depressing, but definitely fit my criteria of showing the tough life some lead right here in the U.S. Still considering whether it is age-appropriate for my little ones -- maybe the oldest only for now.

[mamalatte]

p.s. I also put on reserve at the library the book A Life Like Mine: How Children Live Around the World.