"When I Grow Up..."

12 October 2018

1 min 38s

Out of the mouth of babes.

This powerful film sends an important message about the way poverty often has a greater impact on female members of society. A number of schoolgirls are answering a question about their future and - at first - they reflect the typical aspirations of those their age.

They are upbeat, even though they clearly reflecting the reality of growing up in a relatively benign patriarchy.

But as the piece goes on, the mood darkens. The children begin to reflect a different reality - that of their equivalents in societies where they are valued as commodities rather than as young people.

It's painful to hear some of the children's utterances, and there will be some who disapprove of asking them to say such things... but only by those who wish to sweep these issues under the carpet.

Director Joanna Bailey allows her young cast to stand up and be counted, and it's clear from the looks on their faces that they have some understanding of the message's importance.

It would be better still if the shift in the music wasn't so grindingly obvious - sometimes what is intended to underline a message, actually manages to undermine it. But it doesn't detract from the power of the performances drawn from her young actors by an uncompromising director.

UK

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