BABIES

Directed by: Thomas Balmès

Prove it that you have a heart by watching this film, If you are not moved or at least utter 'aww wasn't that cute' I believe you might be Chucky from that Chucky franchise.

It is the documentary without any narration or dialogue at all, leaving the audience to watch the babies as they do their thing all by them self. Actually, even though you had a baby at home and can say 'Damn, documentary on babies? I have at home and it's like 24/7' this film is still attractive.

There are four babies being featured here; Ponijao from Opuwo, Namibia who drink water from the gutter, Mari who is being raised in Tokyo, Japan. Bayar (short for Bayarjargal) a boy from a farm in Mongol and Hattie from San Francisco, California.

It is a modern vs traditional way of upbringing. Marie and Hattie has a clean environment where their parents shower their kids with toys and activities whereas Ponijao and Bayar is one with the nature with less toys and activities but still active to search and explore their new world.

They are cute in their own way, Marie is frustrated with her toys and cries while Bayar was left in the field with goats. Although they were raised in a different situation but they all went into almost the same phase, crying, sitting, crawling, babbling and then standing.

Babies is enlightening, it open new horizon on cultural differences in raising children. I feel this one as a visual lecture on socio-ethnology class and it is entertaining. What come as an objection is this parade of cuteness lasted for 80 minutes only, since I believe no one would mind if it runs for four hours. Those who mind are people without heart I guess.