Albino United

Albino United

Directed and written by: Barney Broomfield, Marc Hoeferlin and Juan Reina
Certificate: ---
Duration: 90 min’s
My rating: ***

This documentary is a through provoking tail of people standing up for rights which they shouldn’t have to struggle for. Unaware of albino killings in Africa, as I’m sure many other people are, the documentary showed young albino African children trying to send a hopeful message out to others through football.
It opened with an image of an African woman breast feeding her albino child a image which questions circumstances as she says , “a child is a child”. It gives the lasting impression of the suppression felt by these people even sometimes by their own family. It captured a fisherman talking about how albino bones are used by witchdoctors to create potions thought to help many things, including catching fish. It has a constant surreal feel, even when interviewing a witch doctor who said he hides the bones and hair of albinos so the government cannot confiscate them, like a child using a mobile phone in an exam, “albinos cannot hide” spoke one man who followed with, “if you kill an albino you are a rich man”.
We just don’t realise how much albinos stand out in a country full of traditional values.
It is questionable marketing to get into football, using Barak Obama’s slogan ‘yes you can’, sporting I love Obama hats.
It shows how trivial and fickle many can be, as the albino united team climb through the divisions, more supporters gather, a turn from the earlier mocking they faced from many.
They are not inconspicuous but the abuse they faced throughout was threatening.
Labelled the ‘Human ghosts’, this documentary has shown a social changed reached through kicking a ball around. It was a fascinating depiction from a culture I personally did not know existed, now brought to attention a real factor the documentary focuses on the successes with humour, violence, sympathy and anger has done its duty.

A WI's guide to Brothels

A WI’s guide to Brothels. Directed and written by: Helen Simpson
Certificate: 15
Duration: 60 min’s
My rating: ***

MADE in 2008, this documentary was openly attacked by ‘The Independent’ who, using all their wit said, ‘It should have had the red lights put on it’. Nicky Taylor follows two leading ladies at Hampshire’s WI on their fight for the reform on prostitution. You initially get the impression they see the industry through rose tinted glasses, just expecting positive changes if the industry were to be legalised. Watching a culture shock appear in front of us this is cringy, like watching your Nan watching a porno. When the ladies go to Amsterdam they find it’s more than clouds with silver linings as many of the girls still disagree with the way the industry is run. The women o in sex shops and even go to the infamous Bunny ranch in America. The pose like the other girls in a ‘were not phased’ way it was awkward and more important did not uncover how the reform of prostitution in the UK could benefit all!
It was like watching the blind lead a revolution and felt a bit like they wanted to prove a point not make one.
My rating goes for humour and informational aspects of the programme, which did raise attention to a subject mostly pushed under the carpet, but I do agree with many others when I say the WI should definitely stick to discussing tea and biscuits instead of prostitutes and sex trafficking.

The BNP - Is all air time Good air time?

BNP Documentaries’

THERE have been many documentaries based on the members of the BNP showing their real views on immigration and the violence and hostility they show towards people of ethnicity. But after the announcement of their appearance on the BBC's Question Time, I feel I can question peoples protest. I was apparently 'stupidly naive' to assume the BNPs appearance on Question time would show the nation how misinformed their ideals are, but apparently it is a marketing tool for their party in which people would then go ahead and join. But I didn’t hear anyone complaining when Dispatches followed young activist Mark Collet and showed his views openly on prime time television. Yes he did show himself to be a confessed believer in ‘Hitler’s ideologies’, I still vouch without television moments, like question time, we can judge, debate or be introduced to radical ideas , we can now confidently criticise the BNP and thanks to Dispatches - openly laugh in their face.

Dispatches: Young Nazi and proud (2002)
Director: David Modell
Certificate: 15
Rating: ****

AFTER the recent election controversy over the BNP’s stand for the ‘patriot’, this documentary emerged again as a must see with the main character even hitting the news once again in April 2010. Mark Collett based in Rothley and former director of Publicity for the party, is ascertained as a normal boy studying economics at the University of Leeds. Dispatches, I feel, are one of the organisations of the BBC who do take investigative journalism seriously, leaving cameras running they collected many of Collett’s ideas he refused to speak of when, knowingly, being filmed. It’s an awkward and unveiling depiction of the way young members of the BNP are drawn in by unrealistic aims and mislead historical information. It is cleverly constructed and shows a journalism initiative, filming the BNP’s ‘family day’, made, by dispatches, to look like recruitment into the SS. It is like a an undercover world we never understood, an explanation of ideas of intense racism and violence. We are made to believe he is deluded by an unrealistic idea of a country which has grown through globalisation and cultural development. This I feel is air time well used by the BNP a chance to see the truth represented by the ‘next generation’ of BNP leaders. A definite viewing is needed if you like many others question the BNP’s ethics. A cleverly complied depiction of society and radical thinkers, shown in a refresher of dwinderling investigative journalism. Mark Collett did wind up on the news once again but this time it wasn’t just his pride unravelled it was his plans to kill his once beloved leader Nick Griffin. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8603314.stm (The BBC News 5th April 2010)
This was also followed by a documentary depicting another young member, in a society which is becoming more available to a diverse mixture or cultures and ethnicities, why are so many young people draw into the BNP’s ideologies? (Young British and angry BBC 1 )

A complete History of my sexual failures

A complete history of my sexual failures

Directed and written by: Chris Waitt
Certificate : 18
Duration: 1:32 mins
My rating: ****

THIS is by far one of my personal favourites. Released in 2008 this documentary style film by Chris Waitt shows how the public, genuinely, find other peoples humiliation entertaining.
Outlining his reasons, Chris explains his problems in finding a long term partner, and figures everyone who has previously gone out with him must have the answer to his disappointing relationship history.
Being turned down and even threatened Chris turns to ‘the big guys’ who threaten to pull the plug on his funding. Eventually after ordering Viagra, cleaning his flat and going on numerous blind dates Chris finds a hostile ex girlfriend who refuses to even look at him.
She performs the interview from behind a curtain, through an auto reader on a laptop. It’s a trait of modern men and the problems they face, the strains from modern media, to find ‘the one’ before ‘that age’, and to be that suitable candidate. It’s quite a sad depiction of a young man finding problem with his, shall we say performance which follows him to the doctors and even a sex dungeon. I found his determination to prove his not a complete f**k up endearing but slightly over zealous, the scene showing him running around London asking women to ‘help’ him as he takes too many internet brought Viagra seems desperate and leering which changed my opinion on his objectives differ, which happened a lot throughout.
It was an enticing idea, cleverly depicted with an amateur feel, a real example of what people find amusing, although I question whether it could make men realise that it is, sometimes, their fault. Well written and directed, a must see by both genders.