In this post, I’ll be discussing the film “Dreaming Nicaragua”, produced by the Fabretto Children’s Foundation. The film addresses serious issues such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, teenage pregnancy through the perspectives of different children (Yuri, Nauri, Josef, Izabel) who attend Jefet’s art class; doing so makes it easier for viewers to intake these issues. At the same time, this technique establishes a stark contrast between the innocence of the children presented and the extent of the difficulties they must face, effectively emphasizing the severity of these issues. I was particularly struck by Nauri’s interview with a fellow 10 year old girl, who solemnly shares her experiences witnessing domestic abuse and alcoholism.

Overall, the film has a somewhat hopeful tone, as we learn about the children’s dreams and ambitions, though it is not unrealistically euphemistic either. Hence, after two years, we learn that some children are better off, like Izabel’s younger brother who has his skin condition treated, while others face new challenges, as is the case with Yuri and her pregnancy. Overall, I think the documentary fairly depicts these families without exploiting and dramatizing their miseries, as many service-based films tend to do.