The Children

This short film is about a young Samoan boy who by his parents is expected to look after his younger siblings each day and night while his parents are out working. This short film really shows the struggles that immigrant families go through as they are in a new country with a different cultures and no money. The film follows the young boy so the audience sees all the things he does in a day, ranging from taking care of the kids, feeding them, doing the washing, going to school, Changing the babies nappies and more. The only times we see the parents in the film is when they are fighting, just leaving the house or when the mum is talking to her friend about trying to manage with a job and all. The young boy in the film has the maturity of an adult which tells the audience that he has been looking after the kids for a while and has had no choice but to grow up fast. It also gives the audience the idea that he never got his own childhood. Near the end of the film the youngest baby dies. The young boy discovers the body and starts to cry as he has lost his sibling. The parents then come in and take the baby away rushing out the door leaving him to look after the other children again. We then see the family at the funeral, the other children are making a noise so the young boy gets sent outside not giving him the chance to grieve for his lost sibling. There is then a shot of the mother holding her stomach, giving the audience the idea she is pregnant with another child. I think overall this short film is giving off the idea that the parents are not able to care for their children and be there for them as they are constantly working trying to fund the family. The shot of the mother holding her stomach is gives the idea that she hasn’t learnt from the fact her child is dead as she couldn’t care for it. This makes the audience turn against her and feel more for the young boy. This short film is very strong and powerful making people really think about the fact there are many families out there who are struggling just like this. I really enjoyed watching this short film and could see the struggle and understand the families struggle.