A short documentary on a social/educational foundation that attended several children living in situation of poverty, criminality, abandonment or orphans in Rio. Similar to the São Paulo
with Febem (now Fundação Casa), the Flubem devoted their attention in educating and socializing children and teens who hadn't got the attention and care of parents and also those
convicted of crimes before age 18 (the film doesn't specificy much about the latter case but those services were basically juvenile facilities, as also evidenced by how the film opens with
a man getting out of jail and the narrator comments about such man not having the opporunity to a new beginning or a clean slate).
Narrated by the powerful voice of veteran newsman Cid Moreira, the short presents three different teaching institutes that help the youth in getting an education, be social and even
provides professional courses so when they leave the place at age 18 they'll have a future ahead. The way the film presents those educational centers (for boys and girls, though separated), it
all makes it seem as all that youth had great opportunities while living and studying there, getting healthcare as well and finding ways to improve their qualities and work against
their underdevelopments and shortcomings. What we see is a project that works even if everyone involved had to act in front of camera rather than being a naturalistic act. So here's a couple
of things: if it worked as it was shown, then I wonder why it hasn't a model project in other states and for the whole country? Why I couldn't find anything about this project except for
this national archive? If you search for the São Paulo project, the defunct Febem you'll find it many things including how failed everything was. For those outside of Brazil but who happened
to have seen "Pixote, a Lei do Mais Fraco" (1981) the institution where the lead character is Febem and I guess you can form a picture on how socializing and educating was never the norm
but violence, abuse and corruption was the main thing going there. The difference of both projects (I think, for what it was shown and we can deduce) is that the state interference is kept
to a minimum rather than the failed project where the state has jurisdiction over everything and educational projects don't get much budget and infrastructure - hence why we never hear a
story of success of a troubled boy or girl who grew up and succeed in life - at least I never heard of.
For what it got to show it seems like an amazing positive way to rescue lost childhood and lost youth, we get the impression that a great deal of work was done and results
were conquered. But I still keep with my curiousity: how effective and sucessful the whole thing was and its availability for the region it covered - let's not forget that back in
the day the access to public schools and public education was somewhat restrictive with contests being made for students to get it in the public system, and possible rejects would
have this alternative (if available). And on the other hand, if certain government institutions were operating those facilities then there's a reasoning why everything looked so
respectful and well-organized - but at what cost? There's many questions left in the air. As for this piece, I was somewhat fascinated by it. Pretty good and informative, and
with the voice of Cid to make things more special (slightly humored when he keeps repeating the vices of the world to which the kids need to avoid in life). 7/10.