CHILDREN OF A NATION
New Zealand/Timor Leste 2007 • Director: Peter Marra • 52 minutes • English/Tedum with English Subtitles
Set amongst the chaos of youth gang fighting in 2006 that has turned tens of thousands of East Timorese families into IDPs (Internally Displaced People), an inspired East Timorese teacher develops a vision for the children in her school. Sister Aurora Pires, along with New Zealand teacher Anne Fisher, trains teachers to nurture their young students so they can heal wounds and break the cycle of trauma to build a humanistic and truly democratic society.
New Zealand documentary maker Peter Marra, with the collaboration of the East Timorese filmmakers of the Centro Audio Visual Max Stahl Archive Timor Leste, uncovers this remarkable story while documenting the home and school life of a five-year-old child. Soon after filming her first days at school, and having returned to New Zealand, Marra learns that the girl and her family have been forced to abandon their home and flee, as violence escalates in their neighbourhood of Comoro in the capital city Dili. Marra returns to East Timor with the intention of finding her. Through interviews with school teachers and other local leaders, Marra uncovers a personal story that creates a portrait of the reality and needs of the Children of a Nation. This is also the universal story of the needs of all children in every culture.
Screenings
| Wellington | Sunday 11 May, 3.45pm | Monday 12 May, 8.30pm |
| Auckland | Sunday 18 May, 3.45pm | Monday 19 May, 6.00pm |
| Christchurch | Sunday 25 May, 3.45pm | Monday 26 May, 6.00pm |
| Dunedin | Sunday 1 June, 3.45pm | Monday 2 June, 6.00pm |
Related
WESTERN SAHARAOCCUPATION 101
NOW THE PEOPLE HAVE AWOKEN
2008 Dates
Wellington 8 - 16 May
Paramount Theatre
Auckland 15 - 23 May
Rialto Newmarket
Christchurch 22 - 30 May
Regent on Worcester
Dunedin 29 May - 6 June
Rialto Dunedin