The Boys of Baraka (2005)

Twenty 12-year-old black boys from one of the most violent ghettos in Baltimore, Maryland, are taken 10,000 miles away to an experimental boarding school in rural Kenya, to try to take ... See full summary »

Directors:

Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

Stars:

Devon Brown, Darius Chambers, Richard Keyser

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Devon Brown	...	Himself
Darius Chambers	...	Himself
Richard Keyser	...	Himself
Justin Mackall	...	Himself
Montrey Moore	...	Himself
Romesh Vance	...	Himself

Storyline

Twenty 12-year-old black boys from one of the most violent ghettos in Baltimore, Maryland, are taken 10,000 miles away to an experimental boarding school in rural Kenya, to try to take advantage of the educational opportunities they can't get in their own country.

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Plot Keywords:

baltimore maryland | african american | urban | education

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$9,705 (USA) (2 December 2005)

Gross:

$322,386 (USA) (28 April 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Loki Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Climbing Mt. Kenya"
Written by J.J. McGeehan
Performed by Abdoulaye Diabate

User Reviews

An engrossing account of a year spent at a Kenyan boarding school by 11- and 12-year-old boys from a crime-ridden Baltimore neighborhood.

I saw this film at the SXSW 2005 film festival where it won the Special Jury prize and was the runner-up audience favorite. It's a powerful emotionally involving film that should reach a wide audience. The skill of the filmmakers is most evident as you say to yourself over and over, "how could they have gotten that on film? Don't these people see the camera watching them?" Beautifully shot with a tremendous amount of heart, it's the first documentary (non-Holocaust-related) I've seen that had grown men in the audience with tears in their eyes. It contains both hope and despair, and makes you feel strongly that this shouldn't be happening in the United States of America. As soon as you have the chance, go and see it.