The Prayas Children’s Home for Boys is located in one of the poorer quarters of New Delhi, a monolithic building providing food and accommodation for 350 boys. Some are orphans, some have been abandoned, others have run away from home. About half are held under court orders, picked up from the streets for petty crime.
Living at the institution for several months, the film-maker explores its routines and the varied experiences of several boys. Despite the harshness of their lives, many show remarkable strength of character, knowledge, and resilience. Often left to their own devices, they institute a seemingly arbitrary set of checks and balances to make sense of the mayhem around them.
The institution does what it can, struggling to accommodate the sudden arrival of over 180 boys rescued from a child labour factory, placing even more strain on the buildings deteriorating resources.

Please note that there will be a 15-minute break after this screening

Director: David MacDougall
Producer: David MacDougall
Cinematographer: David MacDougall
Country: India / Australia
Length: 185 minutes