Cartagena brings the magic of the movies to the masses

Americas Now

A boy attends “Cinema In The Neighborhood” in Cartagena, Colombia.

A program in Cartagena, Colombia called “Cinema in the Neighborhood” is providing movie magic to kids from the city’s slums.

The idea evolved from the country’s popular Cartagena Film Festival. Public screenings are presented to poor kids who live in the slums, or barrios.

The charming port city of Cartagena is a highly-visited tourist destination. Most visitors stay in the quaint but affluent historic center. Outside the city’s centuries-old walls are dilapidated neighborhoods. These slums greatly expanded when people relocated to the city to escape Colombia’s armed conflict in the countryside. But many were unable to find work, which made the barrios overcrowded and impoverished.

As correspondent Toby Muse reports, the gap between rich and the poor in Cartagena is significant. The U.N. calls Colombia one of the most unequal countries in the world when it comes to wealth disbursement.

“Cinema In The Neighborhood” is one way to alleviate the problem of poverty. In addition to giving out popcorn to the kids who come to be entertained, the screenings give them hope.

Take a look at Muse’s piece on “Cinema in the Neighborhood” to see some kids with happy hearts.

Cartagena brings the magic of the movies to the masses

A program in Cartagena, Colombia called “Cinema in the Neighborhood” is providing movie magic to kids from the city’s slums. The idea evolved from the country’s popular “Cartagena Film Festival.” Public screenings are presented to poor kids who live in the slums, or barrios.

http://ficcifestival.com/