There are a number of cats in this movie, and some feline moments that must be seen to be believed, especially for cat lovers. Showed how simple a baby s needs really arewhich is a message we never really get here in the states. Director thomas balmes starts with a solid foundation, following four babies born in four different countries through the. Thomas balmes documentary babies movie trailer posted on thursday, november 26th, 2009 by peter sciretta focus features has released the trailer for thomas balmes documentary babies online. Available for streaming on netflix after watching the film babies by thomas balmer, i feel as though i have been given a greater insight into the differences in child rearing practices cross culturally. The crosscultural similarities and differences in the lives. The movie follows four babies from birth around the world, two in affluent societies usa and japan, and two in rural poor locations mongolia and namibia. Babies is a slight documentary that seeks to detail the lives of babies in namibia, mongolia, tokyo and san francisco in a cinema verite style which works for and against the documentary. Hattie is a san francisco couples first child, and mari is the first child of a couple living in tokyo.
Redefining the nonfiction art form, babies joyfully captures on film the. Film analysis of the movie babies 792 words 4 pages everybody loves babies, a trademark quote from the documentary movie babies features an insight on the many reasons babies are loved. The innovative concept of a wildlife film with human babies as. The film follows four babies from birth till first steps, each. Ponijao, bayar, mari, and hattie were born in namibia, mongolia, japan, and california, respectively. What we see are interlocking scenes of each of the babies at similar stages of developments. Ponijao, who lives in namibia with her family, is one of four babies followed from birth to first steps in thomas balmes babies, a focus features release. A look at the babies of babies, ten years later director thomas. The director, thomas balmes, has found exemplary babies in namibia, mongolia, tokyo and san francisco, and observes them lovingly as they nurse, play, doze, poke kittens and happily hit one another.
With this movie, thomas is redefining the nonfiction art form. Apr 07, 2010 featuring director thomas balmes, producer alain chabat and focus features ceo james schamus. The crosscultural similarities and differences in the. An adorable insight into the world of tiny tots, thomas balmes babies uses minimal production values to maximise the overwhelming moments. I wasnt sure if thomas balmes had a specific agenda when filming the movie and was. They are from extreme different cultures namibia, mongolia, japan and the united states. I know you cant create art in a vacuum, and all documentaries. Babies is a movie that demonstrates that one film can. Documentary filmmaker thomas balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs.
Documentary filmmaker thomas balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious. In 2010, focus features took audiences on an incredible journey with the release of the documentary babies by thomas balmes. Thomas balmes trained his camera on this pair for nearly two years, and could not have asked for a more striking contrast. I truly loved watching this movie during the first month of my baby s life. Baby ies simultaneously takes us to the heart of very different cultures and captures the most moving, amusing and carefree moments, unique and universal, of the first months of life. Thomas balmes documentary babies could not have a more basic premise. Apart from establishing shots of locations and seasons, and closeups of the babys physical environment, the film is composed of the unique moments that, as every parent knows, punctuate a childs first year and tell a fascinating story. Babies just might restore your faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubbornly lovable species. Public broadcasting service if you just want to watch a baby respond to the arrival of a rooster in his bed with perfect comic timing, babies is the movie to see. Thats kind of what it is, but the utter accessibility of the movie even. Feb 18, 2014 discussion of the film babies by thomas balmes available for streaming on netflix after watching the film babies by thomas balmer, i feel as though i have been given a greater insight into the differences in child rearing practices cross culturally.
Babies is a visual and sensorial experience that will reveal the most basic human emotions. National catholic register everyone should see babies. It moves quickly between the different locations, highlighting similarities and differences. Directed by thomas balmes from an original idea by producer alain chabat, babies couldnt be simpler in concept or execution. I had gotten the first phone call in 2005 from christine. The movie is really about the babies, not their parents, and in most cases, we only see those parts of the parents ranking highest on the infants. Proving that if you surround your baby with love it doesnt matter what culture youre from or what childrearing practices you follow. Filmmaker thomas balmes crisscrosses the globe to observe and record the first two years in the lives of four infants and their families. Babies travels the globe following four children from vastly different corners of the worldponijao from namibia, bayarjargal from mongolia, mari from tokyo and hattie from san francisco.
Babies trailer a look at one year in the life of four babies from around the. The adventure of a lifetime beginsdirected by awardwinning filmmaker thomas balmes, from an. Featuring director thomas balmes, producer alain chabat and focus features ceo james schamus. Babies movie official website buy now focus features. This movie shows the development of four babies from birth to about one year old.
Sure to put a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart, its the film that critics and audiences agree could be the feelgood movie of the. This reaction paper will talk about four babies from different countries. Chronicling the daytoday lives of four babies in four farflung locations around the world mongolia, namibia, japan, and california the. Babies, also known as babyies and bebes, is a 2010 french documentary film by thomas balmes that follows four newborns through their first year after birth. Babies need interaction and protection and milk and thats about it. While grandma was visiting, sam and i went on a date squeal. Ponijao is the youngest of nine children and lives in a village in namibia. Babies observes cultural differences and overly precious cuteness. Ponijao from opuwo, namibia, and bayar jargal from bayanchandmani, mongolia, and two are from urban areas. The movie babies is a documentary that follows four newborns from different regions of the world. Two of the babies featured in the film are from rural areas. Mari from tokyo, japan, and hattie from san francisco, u. May 07, 2010 chaput says his inspiration to share babies resilience and growth was a dream of a movie theater audience that would applaud because a baby would stand on their own two feet. Thomas balmes documentary babies movie trailer film.
Plenty of cuteness, plus an insight or two from mongolia to namibia and japan to the u. Filmmaker thomas balmes offers an adorable glimpse at the first phase of life in this film following four newborn babies through their first year of life. The adventure of a lifetime beginsdirected by awardwinning filmmaker thomas balmes, from an original idea by producer alain chabat, this. I felt we could show the commonalities as well as the differences among these babies. Chaput says his inspiration to share babies resilience and growth was a dream of a movie theater audience that would applaud because a baby would stand on their own two feet. Director thomas balmes from france had a pretty good idea show the first year of life for four babies from different parts of the world. A look at one year in the life of four babies from around the world, from mongolia to namibia to. It reminded me that she truly does not need a lot of stuff to be happy. Discussion guide developed by heartland truly moving. Ponijao, who lives with her family near opuwo, namibia. The whole movie is short video clips without narration. Even people who have cats instead of children should see babies.
Some parents might be uncomfortable watching this movie with a small child because there is quite a bit of. A documentary look at one year in the life of four babies from around the world, from mongolia to namibia to san francisco to tokyo. Theyre called ponijao, bayarjargal, mari and hattie, and they live in namibia, mongolia, japan and the united states. May 07, 2010 babies, a documentary by thomas balmes, chronicles the first year in the lives of four farflung infants. The babies are from namibia, mongolia, tokyo and san francisco. Four infants around the world are observed in the narrationless documentary babies. Essay analysis of the movie babies by thomas balmes. Nov 04, 2016 the premise has an immediacy thats instantly riveting. The crosscultural similarities and differences in the lives of infants in babies, a documentary by thomas balmes pages 4. It was simple to compare and contract the things that one babies had that the other one did not. Although many documentaries are narrated, director thomas balmes uses a different approach by eliminating a voiceover. A film directed by thomas balmes director, authoradaptation, director of photography, executiveproducer year of. On one hand, it shows that babies thrive and find glee in all sorts of situations, but on the other, it makes us think about unfamiliar parenting styles that, if.
May 07, 2010 this movie shows the development of four babies from birth to about one year old. The director of the film exposed the living condition of each of the babies in their designated country. Discussion guide developed by heartland truly moving pictures. At that time i thought it is a nice, cute movie about little kids and their everyday life routine, but now i know that is more than that. Apr 29, 2010 four infants around the world are observed in the narrationless documentary babies.
Babies thomas balmes, bayar, hattie, mari, watch movies. A look at the babies of babies, ten years later focus features. Each baby comes from a different culture, which shows how the various customs of each culture can impact a childs development. By capturing their earliest stage of development on camera, balmes reveals just how much we all have in common, despite being born to. He followed four children, born in different areas of the world ponijao, from namibia. Some babies have more access to books and toys, while others make do with plastic bottles and baby goats. On one hand, it shows that babies thrive and find glee in all sorts of situations, but on the other, it makes us think about unfamiliar parenting styles that, if unchecked, could induce judgment calls. The children are, respectively, in order of onscreen introduction. Ponijao is the youngest of nine children and lives in a. Nov 03, 2016 an adorable insight into the world of tiny tots, thomas balmes babies uses minimal production values to maximise the overwhelming moments of empathy and anxiety that are part and parcel of. French filmmaker thomas balmes set out with a highdef digital camera and a tiny crew to record the daytoday experience of four babies in. Documentary filmmaker thomas balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world. Director thomas balmes catches us up on the children of his amazing documentary.
I knew going into the movie that the 4 different cultures shown throughout the documentary would be incredibly different, however i did. Synopsis the adventure of a lifetime begins directed by awardwinning filmmaker thomas balmes, from an original idea by producer alain chabat, babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world from birth to first steps. Babies travels the globe following four children from vastly different corners of the world ponijao from namibia, bayarjargal from mongolia, mari from tokyo and. The premise has an immediacy thats instantly riveting. Thomas balmess chronicle of four babies the new york times. While that description, and the trailer, makes the film appear to be something like a greatest hits collection from. Chronicling the daytoday lives of four babies in four farflung locations around the world mongolia, namibia, japan, and california the film savors the wonders of the first year of life.