The Boys of Baraka

Rating R Formats DVD Genre documentary Starring Devon Brown, Darius Chambers, Richard Keyser, Justin Mackall, Montrey Moore Directed by Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady Publisher THINKFilm External Links Official The Boys of Baraka Website Official THINKFilm Website

In a day and age in the United States where people go about their daily lives secure in their wealth and privilege, it is an outright shame there are children growing up in this country in such hopeless poverty and facing dangers most of us could never even imagine. It takes a film like The Boys of Baraka, to slap us in the face and make us see these children's reality. This film is such an eye opener, and is powerful on so many levels.

The Boys of Baraka follows the lives of four Sixth Grade inner city Baltimore youths, Richard his brother Romesh, Devon, and Montrey as they are given a chance at a better life. They are recruited to participate in a school program that will take them from the Projects of Baltimore to the Baraka School in Kenya, Africa. It is hoped by removing the boys from the horrors of the projects to the isolation in Kenya, they will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary for them to graduate high school.

According to statistics given at the start of the film, 76% of African American boys in Baltimore do not graduate high school.In an attempt to cut into that perventage, the Baraka School program recruits twenty boys each year. The twenty are some of the most desperate cases, and for many this is their last opportunity at a better education.

The film follows the four boys from the recruitment process through their entire first year at the Baraka School. It is amazing to see the difference in the boys after a few short months of being away from the desperation of the Projects. The school itself is little more than a series of dorm like buildings twenty miles from the nearest town. The rules are strict and many of the boys have trouble adjusting to the disciplinarian atmosphere.

There is a touching scene that takes place shortly after the boys arrive at the school in which Romesh decides he is leaving. He packs his bags and begins to drag them across the dessert saying he walking back to the airport. His brother, Richard, implores Romesh to think about what he is doing. Richard goes on to remind Romesh of what he would be facing back in Baltimore; telling him he would likely be killed for something as inconsequential as his shoes. It is moments like this in the film that are not only captivating, but thought provoking as well.

The film was incomplete as the boys were not allowed to return to the Baraka School for their second year do to security concerns and the civil unrest in Kenya. This leads to the most powerful moment of the film. When the parents were told their children would not be able to return, they literally begged for some kind of help. One father mentioned the boys were more likely to be killed standing on a corner of their own homes than they would at the Baraka School even though a war was going on in Kenya. It is an incredibly moving scene that really captures the essence of the film.

The looks on the boys' faces when they learn of the shutting down of Baraka School is gut-wrenching. You can almost see the hope being pulled right out of them. They quickly begin to revert back to the disenfranchised youths they were before attending the school. They are surrounded by poverty and uncertainty, and they have a hard time remembering there is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

The film does end on somewhat of an upbeat note however. It gives us a final glimpse of the four boys nine months later, and though they experience a few bumps in the road, they seem to be holding on to the lessens they learned at Baraka. Devon is President of his Ninth Grade class; Montrey earned the highest score on his Math MSA in the entire State of Maryland; Romesh is attending high school while his brother Richard is currently working on his GED.

I could go on and on about The Boys of Baraka. I believe this is a film all school children should see. It also should be used as a training film for any government official so they can see how the system is failing many youths across this country not just in Baltimore. The documentary itself earned several awards including Best Documentary at the Chicago Int'l, Newport Int'l, and Atlanta Film Festivals, and they are all well deserved.

The DVD also includes several special features. These include the obligatory Director's comments along with six deleted scenes. The absolute best of these features however, is an interview with Bill Cosby who grew up in the same Projects in Baltimore as the four youths featured in the film do. Mr. Cosby puts many of the films key points into perspective while almost shaming society for failing these kids. It is a definite must see.

If I had to sum up The Boys of Baraka in one word it would be inspirational. This film is incredibly moving. Its in your face style is almost uncomfortable at times, but also gives a definite sense of hope because projects like the Baraka School exist. This is a must have for any fan of documentaries, and would be a nice addition to anyone?s personal collection.