Preview Screening: Child Miners – A Film by Rodrigo Vazquez

Followed by director by Rodrigo Vazquez

Child Miners is a poignant observational documentary from acclaimed director Rodrigo Vazquez (Inside Hamas, Bolivia, Looking for the Revolution)
that follows the plight of two young Bolivian tin miners. Jorge and
Alex are two of 3,000 children working in Bolivia´s tin mines.

This
film follows their lives as they struggle to survive on less than one
dollar a day while fighting against hunger and silicosis, the miners
disease. It is set against the backdrop of the country’s newly elected
indigenous president, Evo Morales, a man of principle who promises to
improve the lives of ordinary Bolivians. The question is, will his
promises ring true for the two young miners?

Director, Vazquez states:

“I
filmed child miners Alex Choque and Jorge Mollinedo in December 2005,
when Bolivia’s first indigenous President Evo Morales won the elections
with the promise of transforming poor people’s lives. Evo promised to
give miners a better life by re-nationalizing the industry.

Jorge’s
father has contracted silicosis, the ‘miners’ disease’ and now is out
of work, so Jorge had to increase his work load to keep bringing food
to the house, thus increasing the chances of becoming ill like his
father. Newly-arrived Cuban doctors sent by Evo’s government establish
that Jorge has begun developing the “miner’s disease” and advised him
to stop working immediately. But now more than ever, Jorge needs to
keep working.”

Length: 45 mins
Directed and Produced by: Rodrigo Vazquez
2008, Argentina/UK