The important tradition of Islamic education in Senegal has been left to develop in disturbingly perverted ways. 50.000 koranic students (Talibes), young boys between 4 and 15 years old are subjected to exploitation in conditions akin to slavery. They are forced to beg on the streets by their koranic schoolteachers and suffer severe physical abuse and neglect. Following the staff of local grassroots NGO La Maison de la Gare (MDG) in their efforts to combat this, the documentary sets out on a poetic exploration of the nature and circumstances that breed and prolong the suffering of the children.

A film by Daniela Kon

2011, Senegal/US, Doc, 57min, Color & B/W, English/French/Wolof, Subtitled/English, DVD

Directed by Daniela Kon

Prod: DEEDA Productions



WINNER
Best Documentary Short & Best Cinematography - International Movie Awards 2012

OFFICIAL SELECTION
The United Nations Assoc. Film Festival (Stanford University 2011)
International Human Rights Film Festival -This Human World (Vienna 2011)
International Human Rights Film Festival (Barcelona 2011)
Bristol International Development Conference (Bristol 2012)

Africa World Documentary Film Festival (Cameroon, Nigeria 2012)

London International Documentary Film Festival (London 2012)

Intl. Film Festival For Peace, Inspiration, And Equality (Indonesia 2012)

Festival Cinemas D'afrique (Switzerland 2012)

COMMFFEST Global Community Film Festival (October 2012)
Human Doc International Film Festival (Poland 2012)