How Are The Kids? 1992
Jean-Luc Godard's urgent 1992 documentary anthology *How Are The Kids?* shines a light on childhood struggles across five continents, blending harrowing reality with poetic reflection.
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Frequently Asked Questions
What is *How Are The Kids? (1992)* about?
This UNICEF-sponsored anthology explores childhood hardships through six stark tales from Niger, Russia, France, Colombia, and beyond. Each segment confronts themes of survival, cultural conflict, and systemic neglect, using children's experiences to expose broader societal failures. The film blurs documentary realism with poetic storytelling, leaving viewers with more questions than comfort.
Who directed *How Are The Kids? (1992)*?
The anthology was helmed by French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard, known for his radical approach to cinema and social commentary.
Who stars in *How Are The Kids?*?
The film features a cast of real-life children from diverse backgrounds, including a malnourished boy in Niger, a Russian child fleeing abuse, and a Colombian street survivor—each playing a version of their own struggles.
Is *How Are The Kids? (1992)* worth watching?
While not a mainstream pick, Godard's anthology offers a powerful, if difficult, viewing experience for fans of documentary drama. Its uncompromising look at global childhood injustices resonates as both art and activism, though its bleak tone may not suit all viewers.
How long is *How Are The Kids? (1992)*?
The film runs 60 minutes, with each of the six segments offering a concentrated dose of emotional and thematic weight.
About How Are The Kids? (1992) — Jean-Luc Godard's Unflinching Childhood Anthology
Jean-Luc Godard's urgent 1992 documentary anthology *How Are The Kids?* shines a light on childhood struggles across five continents, blending harrowing reality with poetic reflection. Produced for UNICEF, this six-part series dissects survival, tradition, and resilience through the eyes of children facing abandonment, malnutrition, and societal rejection. From a malnourished Nigerien boy denied medical care by local customs to a Colombian street child navigating Bogota's violence, each segment weaves raw human drama with Godard's signature visual storytelling, creating an atmosphere of both despair and quiet hope. The film's 60-minute runtime distills complex themes into intimate portraits, revealing how innocence endures in the face of adversity.
This isn't just a documentary—it's a confrontation with the global inequities that shape young lives. Godard's unflinching lens captures the paradox of childhood: moments of play masked by hardship, laughter stifled by silence. The anthology's stark contrasts—between urban squalor and rural isolation, privilege and poverty—demand reflection on what it truly means to protect the world's most vulnerable. Whether viewed as a call to action or a cinematic meditation, *How Are The Kids?* lingers long after the credits roll.