This post was submitted yesterday — not sure by whom, but it’s a good opportunity to mention the Southeast New England Film, Music, and Arts Festival, which runs from April 7-11. — PDD
The images are crudely drawn: helicopters attacking villages. Armed troops burning homes and shooting children as planes roar through the sky. Bodies lying limp and bleeding on the ground. These are the images of war through the eyes of children.
Hundreds of drawings by children from Darfur and Sri Lanka star in the new documentary, “Crayons and Paper” screening this year at the SENE Film, Music and Art Festival in Providence. The film, directed by Bruce David Janu, features Dr. Jerry Ehrlich and the work he has done with Doctors Without Borders in both Darfur and Sri Lanka.
When Dr. Ehrlich goes on humanitarian missions, he brings with him a supply of crayons and paper. Over the years, the 74 year old pediatrician has discovered that the drawings made by children speak louder than his own voice and are a living testament to the atrocities committed upon children in some of the world’s most violent places. “Crayons and Paper” features hundreds of drawing made by children in war-torn countries.
Janu first met Ehrlich while working on his documentary,“Facing Sudan,” in 2005. “Facing Sudan,” his first documentary feature, won best documentary awards in 2007 at the Illinois International Film Festival and the Landlocked Film Festival.
After finishing “Facing Sudan,” Janu was ready for another documentary. But his wife wasn’t, however. The long hours Janu put into the making of “Facing Sudan” was difficult, especially since the couple has two small children and Janu works full time as a teacher.
So Janu decided to incorporate parts of the new film into a Master’s thesis he was completing at the University of Chicago. The film was presented along with a cultural analysis of Dr. Ehrlich’s drawings.
“So here I am again,” states Janu.“Hopefully using Dr. Jerry’s story to raise awareness not only about Darfur, but about Sri Lanka as well.”
When he is not making films, Janu teaches A.P. Unites States History and sociology at John Hersey High School in suburban Chicago
“Crayons and Paper” screens at the SENE Film, Music and Art Festival on April 11, 2010 at 3 pm. The screening will take place at the Slater Mill Theater.
Official site with clips, press kit and lesson plans: http://www.crayonsandpaper.com/crayons1.html
Visit the festival website at: http://www.senefilm.org/