10 Inspiring Documentary Recommendations for 2010

Thank you to Jessie Rock, of Every Child Matters Long Island, for this post!

The medium of film allows us intimate access to others' lives, their struggles, and ultimately to the humanity that links us all. The following are ten documentary recommendations that feature children and youth. The stories they reveal and the people they introduce us to will inspire you and compel you to act. There is also one bonus film selection.
(All synopses are from Netflix)
 
1. "Blindsight" (2006)

Six blind Tibetan teenagers set off on a gripping adventure as they attempt to climb the 23,000-foot Lhakpa Ri on the north side of Mount Everest. Considered cursed in Tibetan culture, blind children are often hidden away to live as pariahs. Determined to challenge that perception, the kids gear up for a demanding expedition led by climber Erik Weihenmayer -- the first blind man to scale Everest -- and learn some lessons about life along the way.
 
2. "Born Into Brothels" (2004)

British filmmaker Zana Briski's Oscar-winning documentary is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes to ensure their survival. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Briski decides to teach them photography. As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.
 
3. "The Boys of Baraka" (2005)

In an experimental program to reduce the rate of juvenile delinquency, the city of Baltimore sent a group of 12-year-olds deemed "at risk" to a boarding school in Kenya, affording the boys the rare opportunity to turn their troubled lives around. Focusing on four of the youths, this compelling documentary follows the students as they struggle to overcome the obstacles of their past in their hopeful bid for a shot at a brighter future.

4. "The Business of Being Born" (2007)

Director Abby Epstein's controversial documentary takes a hard look at America's maternity care system, juxtaposing hospital deliveries against the growing popularity of at-home, natural childbirths that some expectant parents are opting for. Former talk show host Ricki Lake was inspired to produce this compelling exposé after a dissatisfying birthing experience with her first child left her with many unanswered questions.
 
5. "Garbage Dreams" (2009)

Teens Adham, Nabil and Osama are forced to find new ways to support themselves and their families when their jobs as under-compensated garbage collectors are replaced in director Mai Iskander's documentary. Born and raised in Mokottom -- aka "Garbage City" in Cairo -- the boys had little choice but to join the Zaballeen, who've cleaned up the city for 100-plus years. But foreign contractors are disrupting all they've ever known.
 
6. "Mad Hot Ballroom" (2005)

Ballroom dancing goes from lame to cool for a group of New York City students in this insightful documentary, which follows a group of 11-year-olds as they learn to dance old-school styles including the merengue, rumba, tango, foxtrot and swing. Candid interviews capture the kids' initial reluctance at learning ballroom dance and their transformation into serious competitors determined to win a citywide competition.

7. "Praying with Lior" (2007)

Lior Liebling, a Jewish boy with Down syndrome, spends his days praying endlessly to God, much to the delight -- and occasional befuddlement -- of those around him. Follow Lior, nicknamed "the little rebbe," as he approaches his bar mitzvah. Ilana Trachtman's coming-of-age documentary paints a touching portrait of a family, while raising tough questions about notions of faith and disability.
 
8. "A Touch of Greatness" (2004)

When he became a teacher in the 1940s, Albert Cullum realized something was lacking in his classes and decided to stray from the by-the-book, discipline-heavy style favored by his colleagues, instead using poetry and drama to put life and emotion into his teaching. This documentary from Leslie Sullivan (produced by Catherine Gund) depicts a man who challenged traditional teaching methods and proved that creativity has a place in every classroom.
 
9. "Very Young Girls" (2007)

David Schisgall's startling documentary captures the heartbreaking stories of underage girls -- many as young as 13 -- who've been forced into prostitution in New York, exposing how pimps use isolation, violence and drugs to keep girls dependent. Many of the girls interviewed take part in GEMS, a shelter and mentoring program founded by activist Rachel Lloyd -- once a prostitute herself -- that helps them transition out of "the life."

10. "War Dance" (2006)

Set in civil war-ravaged Northern Uganda, this Best Documentary Oscar nominee follows the lives of three youngsters who attend school in a refugee camp and find hope through a rich tradition of song and dance. Coming from a world in which children are abducted from their families and forced to fight in the rebel army, these kids give it their all when they travel to the capital city to take part in the prestigious Kampala Music Festival.

***BONUS: This film is guaranteed to inspire you into action!***

"Favela Rising" (2005)

Co-directors Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Mochary's acclaimed documentary charts the growth of Rio de Janeiro's AfroReggae movement, a grassroots effort to combat the soul-crushing oppression of the city's most notorious slum. Led by former street thug Anderson Sa, the nonviolent program celebrates Afro-Brazilian culture, drawing on hip-hop music and dance to unite the impoverished neighborhood against the ubiquitous drug pushers and corrupt cops.