Over the weekend in Germany, Ghanaian themed short film-Children of Sodom which was shot at “Agbogbloshi” in Accra-Ghana by German film-maker, York-Fabian Raabe was adjudged the Best Short Documentary of 2014 at this year’s Wendland Short Kurzfilmfestival.
‘Children of Sodom’, directed by York-Fabian Raabe takes a special conceptual approach into the lives of two street children in Agbogbloshi, Accra to showcase what a normal day looks like for these children. The documentary separates the cinematic experience from its informative nature.
As it stands now, there are between 30,000 and 50,000 street children living at “Agbogbloshi” in Accra and these children who are full of energy know of nothing beyond struggling to live each day—with the hope of making it to the next.
Domestic violence, abandonment, death of parents or the hope for a better life are reasons, why they come to “Agbogbloshi” and in order to survive, the children take on several duties, including; collecting and sorting rubbish, begging or carrying goods across the market.
Due to the hazardous living conditions in Agbogbloshi, it received the nickname “Sodom and Gomorrah”. It is the lives of these children who have no voice and future—who society seems to have forgotten about that the German film-maker-York-Fabian Raabe has decided to consider in his latest short film-‘Children of Sodom’.
In a recent interview with GhanaCelebrities.Com, York-Fabian Raabe hinted that work is in progress to develop ‘Children of Sodom’ into a full feature film…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOChZrtWphc
‘Children of Sodom’ has already been taken to over 27 Film Festivals around the world—including the prestigious 67th Cannes Film Festival.
On winning the ‘BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY’ prize at the Wendland Short Kurzfilmfestival, the jury had this to say about the short film;
“In Children of Sodom, director York-Fabian Raabe and his film crew give an insight into the daily life of two street children who live in the seemingly apocalyptic world of an electronic waste dump in Ghana’s capital Accra. Without narration, without interviews, the movie confronts the viewers with images whose abysses they cannot escape and which leave a lasting impression.
But York-Fabian Raabe does not leave the situation without comment – through skillful montage he puts images of animals – cows and goats that live on the dump – against the shots of the protagonists, and create thought-provoking symbolism.
And finally, he turns the perspective and hands over the camera to the children, who point it at the director and his assistant – closing the circle of the film as well as of the journey of electronic waste from north to south, and we’re forced to look at ourselves.”
Check out the film’s website: http://www.childrenofsodom.com
