A Light In the slaughterhouse
This is a feature documentary about a cantankerous rogue priest and his love affair with the largest slum in Bangkok. This unprecedented access also provides an intimate look into the people of the slums and their fight to save their homes and livelihood, despite the corruption, drugs, violence, sex trafficking , AIDS/HIV, and the big corporates who want to displace the strong close-knit community who keep each other alive. A Light in the Slaughterhouse is the central piece of an impact campaign to end the silence facing children at risk around the world.
Set in Bangkok, the story has a universal and social significance which is most relevant today for both an Australian and global audience. It is also a powerful and inspirational testament that one extraordinary individual can make a difference. That would be Irish/American priest, Father Joe Maier’s remarkable 50-year mission to help the lives of the forgotten children of Bangkok. Over those years, through the Mercy Centre, he has enabled over 80,000 children to go to school and has built or rebuilt over 10,000 homes for them. He has stared evil in the face and put his life in danger numerous times, by committing his life to protecting, educating, and empowering them.
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Through the Eyes of Children is a short proof-of-concept film for A Light in the Slaughterhouse. Five Bangkok slum children are saved from poverty, disease and abuse by art and the dedicated care of a maverick priest. Father Joe Maier has guided thousands of children like Note, Keng and the triplets Fon, Fa and Fai from extremely difficult childhoods to content, constructive lives, often using art as a way of releasing positive energies. James has been filming in and around Klong Toey and the Mercy Centre (where Father Joe is based) for over 15 years.
The children’s pictures came to the attention of a Queensland art gallery, 4500 miles away in Australia. An exhibition is arranged, which proves a commercial and critical success, underlining the vital role creativity has to play for such children. ‘Through the Eyes of Children’ was Commissioned by Little Dot Studios and produced by Lingwood Productions. It has won numerous awards such as:
Official Selection - Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival 2018 (nominated for most Inspiring True Story).
Over 130,000 views, & voted the 2nd most popular film on Little Dot Studio's YouTube Channel.
Certificates of Excellence at Kolkata and Bangalore Film Festivals
The Walter Klein Trophy at the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers Conference, Dublin.
View the film: click here (Password: lingling88) *Note: sensitive material
As featured in the New York Times, read more below: