WE ARE THE CHILDREN

US, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Khadji Ali Ahmed, Ted Danson, Ally Sheedy, Judith Ivey.
Directed by Robert M. Young.

We are the Children is a telemovie about the plight of Ethiopians and famine in the mid-'80s. It has a strong cast led by Ally Sheedy as a do-gooding but sympathetic American doctor, Ted Danson (who co-produced the film) as a freelance television journalist. There is a very good performance by Judith Ivey (Harry and Son, Compromising Positions, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Hello Again) as a convincing contemporary nun.

The film was produced by the Catholic organisation, the Paulists. It has strong human drama, a showing of the situation in Ethiopia, a social and humanitarian concern as well as dialogue (by Michael de Guzman) about God, cruelty and mercy.

The film highlights world ignorance about the Ethiopian situation and the need for the media to let the world know so that it can respond. The title, of course, comes from Bob Geldof's campaign and the song 'We Are The Children'.

1. Impact as drama, social message? The world and world concerns in the mid-80s? Ethiopia and famine? Moral perspectives? The appeal for help?

2. American backgrounds contrasted with Ethiopia, especially during the credits? The reality of Ethiopia? The contrast with comforts in the capital city and Nairobi?

3. The portrait of the Ethiopian people, the land and famine? Health and illness, dying? The needs? The workers and their survival, their life-and-death decisions? The role of the Army and the revolution in oppressing the people, taking the food?

4. The needs and the world's response? Impossible for individuals to do everything? Themes of the reality of God, God's permitting the suffering, a callous God? The nature of faith, mistrust, despair? The comments about the head seeing the problem and the heart probing the mystery? The experience of suffering, people changing and the consequences? The importance of meanings in the experiences? The people and their response to their suffering? The role of prayer? The role of humour?

5. Doctors and the need for making decisions about life and death and who would survive? Repercussions for people? For them?

6. Annie as a comfortable American doctor, her American life in Boston, her dreams, her selfishness and self-centredness and her altruism? Her farewells, the arrival, the mistake with Guffy? Her being looked after by the priest? The meeting with Brenda? Her hopes?

7. The continued pressure of her work, its relentlessness? Examining and diagnosing? The assistance of the nurses? The priest and his help? The tour of the house and its amenities and lack of amenities? Her initiation into the food? The friendships? Her exasperation? Anger at the jokes? Her responsibilities of making life-and-death decisions and the repercussions on her? Her anger and abuse of Brenda for praying and her attitudes towards God? Her anger with Guffy and his freelancing and making everything a joke? Her going on leave, loosening up, the relationship with Guffy, sexuality and her comment about their using each other, love? Trying to persuade him to do video work and circulate it? Guffy and his going to Nairobi and making the deal? His having to take the job and go to Afghanistan? The death of the woman whom she cared for? Her return, the Army's arrival, her bashing the soldier, having to look after him, the argument with-the military? Tending the military wounded? The jog in being reunited with the people? The comment on Annie's experience, changing attitudes, American presuppositions, facing the reality and not calling it fantasy, her experience of suffering and coping? Self-giving?

8. Brenda as a contemporary nun, American type, her presence and hard, work, friendship with the priest, joy in her work, helping Annie, the jokes? Her belief in God, her prayer, Annie abusing her and calling her living in Fantasyland? Her attempts at explanation? her coping and arguments about God? Her personal life? Continuing to work?

9. The contrast with Guffy, the offhand American, freelancing, attraction towards Annie's jokes, Annie's attack on him? The video and his going to Nairobi, taking the job, the bargain? The relationship with Annie, sexuality, love7 His farewell and promise to seek her out?

10. The priest and his role in the camp, personal, sacraments and anointing, spiritual help, helplessness, the lively participation of the people in the Mass, singing?

11. The continued portrait of the Ethiopian people: suffering, age, dignity, choices, death, emotions?

12. The coming of the military, the revolution, the taking of the food? Their viewpoint? The strong clash between the commander and Annie?

13. The video being shown, the result of the world's response to Ethiopia, the credits at the end? The continued needs?

14. A film of human values, social values, religious values?