the dancing boys of afghanistan is a 2010 documentary film produced by clover films and directed by afghan journalist najibullah quraishi about the practice of bacha bazi in afghanistan .

the 52-minute documentary premiered in the uk at the royal society of arts on march 29 , 2010 and aired on pbs frontline in the united states on april 20 .

bacha bazi , also known as bacchá ( from the persian bacheh بچه ) , literally " playing with boys " in persian , pashto and hindi-urdu ) , is a form of sexual slavery and child prostitution in which prepubescent and adolescent boys are sold to wealthy or powerful men for entertainment and sexual activities .

this business thrives in afghanistan , where many men keep dancing boys as status symbols .

the practice is illegal under afghan law .

the dancing boys of afghanistan

the dancing boys of afghanistan <EOT> educational dvds of the dancing boys of afghanistan are available from shoppbs for teachers .

' he ' s touching the boy with his cotton clothes , ' a musician sang on the 2009 documentary , the dancing boys of afghanistan .

once the party is over , and the dancing has finished , the true horror of their role is revealed .

bacha bazi , which translate as ' boy play ' , is on the surface a harmless form of entertainment - young boys dancing for the entertainment of their elders .

sordid : this young boy - filmed as part of the documentary , the dancing boys of afghanistan - is another bacha bereesh . but these boys are not just dancers , but often sexually abused , by their masters and sometimes by their friends , kept as little more than sex slaves

dancing boys are picked out at a young age by men who cruise the streets looking for effeminate boys among the poor and vulnerable . they offer them money and food .

afghanistan is a country where islamic values are cherished so i asked a grand mullah at the shrine of ali in mazar - e sharif - the holiest place in afghanistan - for his views on bachabaze .

sexual slavery involving boys as young as 10 is being condoned and in many cases protected by authorities in northern afghanistan .

' when the boys are beautiful it shows they are powerful , but also the number . you have to spend a lot of money to pay the boys , feed the boys , keep them clothed .

" according to our research these dancing boys are used by powerful men for sex , " mr alimy said .

you can hear the entire documentary ' afghanistan ' s dancing boys ' on 8 september from 0905gmt on the bbc world service , or you can listen online by clicking here . this programme is part of the bbc world service ' s world stories series .

wealthy former warlords in baghlan , a northern province of afghanistan , recruit adolescent boys for sex and entertainment , while local authorities remain powerless in stopping the practice .

she explains she is deeply pessimistic about the future of these children and the capacity of officials to stop the trade in young boys .

soldiers fighting in afghanistan after 2001 spoke of their surprise at watching grown men walking down the streets of the conservative country , hand in hand with a young boy .

photo : a 15 - year - old ' dancing boy ' performs before a large group of men .

in afghanistan , impoverished boys are being forced into a life of abuse as a result of bacha bazi – dancing boys – an old practice that sees wealthy or powerful men exploit underage boys as sexual partners . although it is illegal , afghan authorities have failed to put a stop to the practice . ( video by wali sabawoon ; reporting by weda baraki ; narrated by frud bezhan )

according to the un report , there is evidence that the practice of bacha bazi and the sexual abuse of boys is common throughout the north of the country . it confirms that boys , some as young as 10 , are lured into life as a sex slave .

private dancer : the practice of bacha bazi ( ' boy for play ' ) is growing in afghanistan . photograph : ghaith abdul - ahad

and dr sobhrang dreams of setting up a home , where the boys will finally be safe .

when we leave the party at two in the morning a teenage boy is still dancing and offering drugs to the men around him .

but at 24 , he is getting far too old to remain a dancing boy .

afghanistan ' s poverty has been a driving force in the rise of bacha bazi in the last 15 years . it makes it easy for predators to prowl the streets targeting ' pretty ' young boys , enticing them from their families with promises of work or education .

later into the night , once the dancing is over , the boys are frequently shared with close friends , for sexual favors . and by the end of the evening it is not at all uncommon for the boy to have a new owner , as the parties often provide the opportunity for buying and selling .

according to abdulkhabir uchqun , an mp from northern afghanistan , the tradition is not just alive , but steadily growing .

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the few boys the inquiry did managed to speak to revealed they dreamed of running away , despite the threats of violence and even murder , but had nowhere to turn .

tonight ' s four corners follows the criminal activity of two paedophiles who search for young boys so they can sell or groom them to be trained as dancing boys . in one case the journalist goes in the car with a paedophile named dastager . as they drive , dastager describes the type of boy he is looking for . then in broad daylight the dancing boy master stops the car , goes to a shopfront and brings a boy back to his waiting car .

the bacha bereesh , between the ages of 14 to 18 ( though 14 seems to be the preferred age ) , are dressed in special women’s clothing , with bells tied to their feet , and paraded out to dance at parties and weddings . in general , the practice of men dancing at parties is relatively common in afghanistan ,

“unfortunately i have to say that this type of dancing , sexual abuse and even the sale of boys has been going on for years , ” he says . “it is a despicable culture . the boys involved are usually poor , underage or orphans , and they are forced into it by their economic circumstances .

dancing boys are a lucrative business . powerful former warlords and businessmen love to watch them and will pay a lot of money to have their own boy for bacha bazi . some of the boys are traded like swap cards among the rich and powerful , and if they disobey their owners they are killed or brutalised .

in afghanistan women are not allowed to dance in public , but boys can be made to dance in women ' s clothing - and they are often sexually abused .

such parties are illegal under afghanistan law and with good reason . the " dancing boys " are in effect sex slaves . they are lured off the streets by pimps . they are taught to dance and sing , to wear make - up and to dress like girls . then they are made to perform before large groups of men . all of them are sexually abused .

cycle : but with the boys pushed out of society , they have few options . batoor explained many of them turned to drugs or alcohol to cope

it ' s after midnight . i ' m at a wedding party in a remote village in northern afghanistan .

the group ' s head , musa mahmudi , says while it is common in many parts of afghanistan there have been no studies to determine how many children are abused across the country .

the most disturbing thing is what happens after the parties . often the boys are taken to hotels and sexually abused .

but with the fall of the extremist group , bacha bazi returned . it quickly became so acceptable that even the police would be sat among the dozen or so men cheering the boys on .

it is said one of the country ' s favourite sayings is women are for children , boys are for pleasure .

in kabul and other afghan cities , bacha bazi cds and dvds are widely on sale from street stalls and carts , serving an audience who can ' t afford the real thing . in many of the cafes , men sit drinking tea and watching grainy images of boys dancing .

it was there that i met zabi ( again not his real name ) , a 40 - year - old man who is proud to have three dancing boys .

mohammad zaher zafari , head of the northern branch of the afghan independent human rights commission , bemoans the government’s inability to take action .

large halls provide the venues for the weekly parties where the boys’ owners , invite their friends to watch them dancing . several different types of dances are popular , daad says , and if the boy refuses to dance or performs badly , his master beats him with a long stick .

dancing boy : shukur , 21 in this picture , was kidnapped in kabul when he was 12 years old and taken to kunduz where he was kept as a bacha bereesh - a dancing boy - for a rich and powerful man . he was 17 when he escaped , and began making a living from his dancing

the streets of afghanistan are full of working children . they polish shoes , they beg , they gather plastic bottles to resell . they will take on any job which will earn them some money , he says .

in afghanistan today , in the midst of war and endemic poverty , an ancient tradition — banned when the taliban were in power — has re - emerged across the country : many hundreds of boys , often as young as 11 , are being lured off the streets on the promise of a new life , many unaware that their real fate is to be used for entertainment and sex . with remarkable access inside a sexual exploitation ring operating in afghanistan , an afghan journalist investigates this illegal practice , talking with the boys and their masters , and documenting how the afghan authorities responsible for stopping these crimes are sometimes themselves complicit in the practice .

" unfortunately it is the on the increase in almost every region of afghanistan . i asked local authorities to act to stop this practice but they don ' t do anything , " he says .

when the afghanistan independent human rights commission ' s report was released last year , it found the practice was still just as widespread as it had always been .

in any other country , it would be considered paedophilia . in afghanistan , however , the perpetrators have been protected by the police , scared to upset the powerful warlords and businessmen .

then the boys are passed between the men , taken to hotel rooms where they can be sexually abused .

" i started dancing at wedding parties when i was 10 , when my father died , " says omid .

lance corporal geoffrey buckley jr told his father he was forced to listen to the screams of young boys being raped at night .

the men behind the practice are often wealthy and powerful . some of them keep several bachas ( boys ) and use them as status symbols - a display of their riches . the boys , who can be as young as 12 , are usually orphans or from very poor families .

zabi is not especially wealthy or powerful , yet he has three bachas . there are many people who support this tradition across afghanistan and many of them are very influential .

if you have inside knowledge of a topic in the news , contact the abc .

the practice , known as ' bacha bazi ' , is ' shameful ' , says dr soraya sobhrang , who led an nation - wide investigation into the practice for the afghanistan independent human rights commission .

abc teams share the story behind the story and insights into the making of digital , tv and radio content .

the men are said to lavish money and gifts on their boys . many claim to love them , and there are cases of boys who are not so dissatisfied with their lifestyle , demeaning as it may seem .

both prestige as well as poverty are the main motivators for the revival of bacha bazi .

" it ' s true they make the boys wear girls ' clothes and make them dance in front of many men , " he said .

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the independent human rights commission in kabul is one of the few organisations that has attempted to address the bachabaze practice .

shocking : american soldiers have recounted their surprise at seeing grown men walking down the street with young boys . others have described having to listen to the sounds of young boys being raped at night - but were told to do nothing to stop it

there is no sign of the bride or groom , or any women , only men . some of them are armed , some of them are taking drugs .

a beautiful boy who is also the best dancer becomes a status symbol for his master . a man going by the name of nasro bay explains how the public ostentation of bacha bazi is a sign of prestige :

yet for the boys , more than two fifths of whom are between the age of 13 and 15 , being chosen as a bacha bareesh - man without a beard - it is a life sentence , one which will see them cast out of their families and shunned by society .

the boys are trapped in their world - and are drawn into becoming the predators themselves by the time they are considered too old to be a bacha bereesh anymore .

unable to find anyone willing to do anything about the abuse of children , mr quraishi flew to new york to meet radhika coomaraswamy , who has been appointed by the un to raise awareness of the plight of children in war zones .

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a ‘bacha bereesh’ is a boy without a beard , and in several circles a beardless boy is most desired by rich , powerful male patrons . grown men become involved in ‘bacha bazi’— which literally translates into ‘boy - play’ . this is a time - honored tradition , condemned by human rights activists and muslim clerics , but it is seeing a revival in the north province of afghanistan . it is by no means restricted to the north of afghanistan only , but has virtually faded in the south , where the taliban’s strict moral code act as a deterrent .

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but the shame is so great , it is hard to put an exact figure on how many boys have been - or are still being - kept by their ' bacha baz ' , their master . it is so covert , barely any pictures exist of the young boys performing their dances .

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muhammad ibrahim , deputy police chief of jowzjan province , denies that the practice continues .

most of kabul ' s musicians congregate in the southern part of the city , an area that was half destroyed by the civil war . in a crumbling hotel , an aged guard opened a gate that led to a dark staircase surrounded by metal grilles . the air was damp and heavy with the smell of hashish , opium , urine and burned oil . on the first floor was a small hall and a few rooms , with shoes and flip - flops piled high outside . on thursday afternoons , dancing boys and their owners come here to wait for clients to hire them for weddings or parties .

the trade in boys is well known to the united nations . according to nazir alimy , who compiled a report on the issue for the un , there is no doubt who is funding this practice and why the police refuse to stop it .

they command the attention of the room as they move to the traditional songs , with words which do more than hint at what is to come .

police find the body of a missing four - month - old boy near . . .

but there is hope : the report has struck a chord at the highest levels . the ministries of justice and religion have both sat up and listened .

these promises more often than not come to nothing : instead , the boys are trained as dancers , made to perform to groups of men dressed as girls , bells on their flowing skirts and make up on the faces .

this is an ancient tradition . people call it bachabaze which literally means " playing with boys " .

he says he has never slept with his boys , though he admits he hugs and kisses them .

the fact homosexuality is forbidden in islam is swept under the carpet by those who participate , who claim there is a loophole . they are not in love with the boys , and therefore not gay .

the practice of taking young boys to perform as dancers at private parties is known as bacha bazi ( literally , " boy for play " ) and is an afghan tradition with very deep roots . under taliban rule , it was banned , but it has crept back and is now widespread , flourishing also in the cities , including the capital , kabul , and a common feature of weddings , especially in the north . the bacha dancers are often abused children whose families have rejected them . their " owners " or " masters " can be single or married men , who keep them in a form of sexual slavery , as concubines . the bachas are usually released at the age of 19 , when they can get married and reclaim their status as " male " , though the stigma of having lived as a bacha is hard to overcome . the afghan authorities and human rights groups are aware of the plight of bacha boys , but seem powerless to stop it .

' once i grow up , i will be an owner and i will have my own boys . '

' some of these boys were 18 or 19 . if they want to marry , nobody can know . no family wants to give their daughter to these people . '

and women unallowed to partake in such activity . however , in baghlan , the former warlords and mujahideen commanders are resurrecting bacha bazi , and holding dance competitions between the boys .

the justice system is weak , poverty is widespread , and there are thousands of children on the streets trying to make a living .

but behind the devout exterior , the country is hiding a dark secret - one which the government has tried to sweep under the rug .

almost everyone ' s attention is focused on a 15 - year - old boy . he ' s dancing for the crowd in a long and shiny woman ' s dress , his face covered by a red scarf .

in reality , it is often little more than sex slavery , where boys as young as 10 are passed around a group of middle aged men for their own sexual gratification .

" we have a circle of close friends who also have bachas . sometimes we gather together and put women ' s clothes and dancing bells on our bachas and they dance for us for two - to - three hours . that ' s all . "

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desperation : often these boys are from impoverished families , and are tempted away by promises of work and education - neither of which is likely to come to fruition . instead , they find themselves stigmatised by wider afghan society , seen as ' gay '

but i went to a party late at night in the old quarter of kabul , less than a mile from the government ' s headquarters .

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documentary on " bacha bazi " , boys made to dress up like women and dance to entertain their elders . little more than a form of sex slavery ! aired on pbs frontline .

' maybe 100 , maybe 500 , maybe 1 , 000 . . . it was one of the challenges when we visited some boys . when i asked them , they said they were owners , they didn ' t want to show they were the victims .

how the boys are enticed into the arrangement : “first we select boys in the village and later on we try to trick them into coming with us , ” he said . “some of them stay with us for money ; they get a monthly allowance , and in return we can have them any time we want . they don’t stay with us all the time - they can do their own jobs and then just come to parties with us . ”

' a war lord has many - they keep maybe 10 boys , all together , ' dr sobhrang told mailonline .

a young boy brought a small metal pot , poured warm water on the men ' s hands and dried them with a small , stinking towel . dinner was served : plates of meat stew , thick loaves of bread and bowls of yogurt . then , when the meal was over , one of the guests opened his sash and pulled out four small bottles of tajik vodka . solemnly and with half - embarrassed smiles , the men raised their glasses , whispered , " salamte " and drained them .

in a story to be broadcast on four corners tonight , the practice of bacha bazi or " boy play " , as well as other allegations of child abuse , are explored .

tradition : shaharyar became a dancer when he was 17 , after his father died and he needed to make money . he met his master in a chai khana , or tea shop , and was taught dancing . the master is now his agent , and takes a cut of his what he earns performing for parties

' nobody knows about how many boys there are - it is very sensitive , very underground , ' said dr sobhrang .

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he night ' s rituals unfolded slowly . in a small house in a village near the town of taluqan in northern

the powerful men he refers to are often former warlords who helped drive the taliban out of the north . others are wealthy businessmen . under the taliban , bacha bazi was outlawed . today it is still a crime , but clearly there is no concerted effort being made to stop the practice and the criminal activity that surrounds it .

" we have to do that , ” explains daad . “we spend money on these boys , so they have to dance . ”

he takes me to the street in front of his office to show me just how difficult it is to protect children here .

there have been very few attempts by the authorities to clamp down on the bachabaze tradition .

afghan journalist najibullah quraishi has filmed police attending a party where a young boy is the " entertainment " . the police shown on the video include one officer from the youth crime squad .

dressed in a flowing shirt and long , red skirt , with sherwal pants beneath and small silver bells fastened to hands and feet , the dancer stepped across the floor , face hidden behind a red scarf . the bells chimed with the movement , the skirt brushing past the watching men who stretched out their hands to touch it . the sitar player sang loudly , a love song about betrayal . the dancer twisted and sang hoarsely with him , arms thrown high above a lean , muscular body , moving faster and faster until finally the scarf dropped , revealing a handsome young man ' s face with traces of a moustache and beard . one of the men quickly grabbed the scarf and started sniffing it .

boasting : it is highly prestigious in some circles to have your own boy . having one or many bacha bereesh is seen as a marker of your power and wealth - which means some war lords can have more than 10 in their service . how pretty the boys are is also important

“i was dancing last night , ” one exhausted - looking 14 year - old boy said , when his owner forced him to speak . “i have been doing this for the past year . i have no choice - i’m poor . my father is dead , and this is the only source of income for me and my family . i try to dance well , especially at huge parties . the men throw money at me , and then i gather it up . sometimes they take me to the market and buy me nice clothes . ”

why did he think other young boys dressed as women and danced ? " because men like women and they are not available , so we act like women . we wink at the rich men in the room , we excite them and they pay us . two weeks ago , in a town north of kabul , the elder paid me 4 , 000 afghanis [ around £49 ] . but after the programme i had to shout so he would be embarrassed in front of other people , because he wanted to do things with me . sometimes we get a lot of money . sometimes we have to spend the night with them and they don ' t give us anything .

after the fall of the taliban , habib came back and settled in a small hotel near kabul . " people accuse us of being homosexuals and transsexuals , but we are not , " he said firmly . " we are not trying to be women , we are just dancers . some men like my dancing and give me tips , but other men like to do other things with me . i have to be careful – they can be dangerous . i know how to manoeuvre to take their money and not let them harm me . "

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as more vodka was drunk , the party grew louder . its host – a former taliban commander now in alliance with the afghan government and americans – chatted jovially to his guests , mainly local farmers and shopkeepers . then one of the men produced a sitar and a dancer entered the room .

indeed , the government has failed to do much about the practice of bacha bazi , and police force do little to encourage public confidence . local officials do admit the practice is prevalent but seem at a loss as to how to combat it .

accepted : on this occasion , the men are performing to a group of policemen in uruzgan province . until recently , there was no law which directly prohibited bacha bazi - but after dr sobhrang released the report , the government decided to finally act

' now he is 20 years old , he can also take other boys for this process . and so it goes from one generation to another generation . '

disgust : dr sorraya sobhrang , who led an investigation into bacha bazi in 2014 , says the practice is ' shameful ' and an abuse of the children ' s human rights . pictured : a young man gives a performance based on the bacha bazi dances

" we have 25 cases of such immoral acts . they are being processed and we are trying our utmost to tackle the problem , " he says .

, a dozen men huddled in a cold , dark room , wrapped in thick blankets and squatting on red cushions . the wind sliced through a plastic sheet nailed to a wooden frame in the mud wall , and a strong aroma of hashish lingered in the air .

mr alimy says his research shows it is happening in the south and even in the afghan capital , kabul .

“yes , bacha baazi is practiced a great deal , especially in the khost - o - fering and andarab districts , ” says hafizullah khaliqyar , head of the prosecutor’s office for baghlan province . “boys are forced to dance , they are sexually abused , and they are even bought and sold . fights take place over these bacha bereesh . it’s increasing day by day , and it’s catastrophic . ”

' in the end he ran away , and he moved around a lot so they wouldn’t find him . he was begging on the streets of kabul . if he’s still alive he would be about 18 now . '

“we know it is immoral and unislamic , but how can we quit ? ” asks 35 year - old chaman gul . “we do not like women , we just want boys . ”

in the same room i met habib , a dancer , dressed in a spotless white salwar kameez . two gold rings decorated his manicured fingers . his face was plump and he had a thin , well - groomed moustache above thick , red lips . why did he start dancing ? " i love it . no one forced me to do it – i love it . "

the afghan government is unable and some say unwilling to tackle the problem . they are facing a growing insurgent movement . how long international troops will stay in the country is uncertain .

the hotel was crowded with musicians and singers , including 30 pakistani pashtun musicians who had come to kabul to seek refuge from the clampdown in the north - west of their country . one , his hair parted with a ruler in the middle and greased with cream , told me , " the afghans like us as much as their own musicians . even kendeel kuji [ a famous pakistani singer ] is here . "

boys like shukur , who was just 12 when he was stolen away from his family and made to be a ' bacha bereesh ' . it took him five years to escape , and he now uses the dances he learned to make a living .

" we haven ' t had any cases of bachabaze in the last four - to - five years . it doesn ' t exist here any more , " he says .

" i am used to it . i love my lord . i love to dance and act like a woman and play with my owner , " he says . when asked what he would do when he got older , ahmad says he will be an owner and will have many of his own boys .

i love my lord . i love to dance and act like a woman and play with my owner . once i grow up , i will be an owner and i will have my own boys .

" i am grown up now and do not have the beauty of former years . so , i proposed to marry my lord ' s daughter and he has agreed to it . "

" when i mentioned the topic it was as if i had dropped a big brick , especially in the official circles , " she said .

he says the paramilitary commanders involved are powerful - so powerful that no one , not even the police , is able to rise against them .

but baghlan chief prosecutor hafizullah khaliqyar has more hope , and says those found guilty of abuse would be jailed for at least 15 years .

omid ' s mother is in her early 30s , but her hair is white and her face creased . she looks at least 50 . she tells me she only has half a kilo of rice and a few onions for dinner . they ' ve run out of cooking oil .

but poverty tells a less sentimental story , and remains a huge motivating factor in the boy’s lives . it’s often desperation which drives them into the lifestyle .

" i am normal , but i like to walk and talk and to perform like a woman . once , a man offered me $ 20 , 000 [ £12 , 250 ] to become his lover and stop dancing , but i said no because i love to dance . i took only $ 1 , 000 . now we are together . yes , he is married . but he still likes me . "

i ask him why he doesn ' t go to the police for help .

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in an adjacent room , 16 - year - old mustafa was preparing to dance next . his owner opened a small bundle of clothes and produced a long , blue skirt , crimson shirt , leather straps and bells . mustafa stood on a table and nervously smoked a cigarette . holding his thin arms over his head , he allowed two bearded , turbaned men , giggling and laughing , to dress him like a doll . one combed his long hair , and invited the other to have the " honour " of wrapping the straps around his hands and feet .

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ahmad jawad , 17 , has been with a wealthy landowner for the past two years .

omid ( not his real name ) is 15 years old . his father died in the fields , when he stepped on a landmine . as the eldest son , it ' s his job to look after his mother - who begs on the streets - and two younger brothers .

omid says he is paid about $ 2 for the night . sometimes he is gang raped .

“it’s a good thing , ” he said . “we have our own culture . in foreign countries , the women dance . we have our own dances which don’t exist anywhere else in the world . ”

" they are powerful and rich men . the police can ' t do anything against them . "

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' they have sex with their masters and then at the parties they are abused by different people . '

' he started taking heroin to help him cope , but he was still being taken to the parties .

later , when he had finished his performance , mustafa told me his story . " my grandfather kept telling me when i was a child to be careful of men because i was handsome , " he said . " one day a mechanic in the town attacked me , my family rejected me and i had to go and stay with that man . now i am with someone else and he taught me how to dance . " he spoke matter - of - factly , then started explaining in great detail about where he buys his women ' s clothes . how did he feel about the men dressing him ? " it ' s ok , " he said .

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but last september , three years after lance cprl buckley was shot to death on his base , gregory buckley sr told the new york times : ' my son said that his officers told him to look the other way because it ' s their culture . '

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for the first time , a law which directly deals directly with bacha bazi has begun to be put in place . police are finally starting to make arrests .

bacha bazi is not a new phenomenon in a country famed for keeping its women and men separate . however , it was all but wiped out under the taliban .

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she knows that her son dances at parties but she is more concerned about what they will eat tomorrow . the fact that her son is vulnerable to abuse is far from her mind .

' how can i run away from this place , ' they told the report writers . ' where can i go ? i am not accepted by society or by my family . '

" my youngest bacha is 15 and the oldest is 18 . it wasn ' t easy to find them . but if you want it badly - you will find them , " he says .

' there was one particular boy i remember , called faraidoon , who was about 13 when i first met him , who was taken and used in the parties , ' ali batoor told mailonline .

khaliqyar says there is little that prosecutors could do . “the police and district heads won’t cooperate with us , ” he complains . “they don’t send us their files , so we can’t take action . ”

“i am not really rich , but i am just as good as the wealthy . i want as many bacha bereesh as possible , so that when i go to parties i am no worse than anybody else . ”

" it was very clear to me , and someone actually said it to me , these are not things people talk about . so let ' s first deal with the war and then we ' ll deal with these other issues . "

when he was 13 , he said , his family disowned him , so he went with his lover to peshawar , fleeing the taliban . " there i learned how to dance . we could do everything there ; i could dress like a woman and dance . here in kabul we can ' t do much : i can only put some red on my lips and dance . " he stroked his face with his delicate hands and pushed back his hair with a shake .

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" i was only 14 - years - old when a former uzbek commander forced me to have sex with him , " says shir mohammad . " later , i quit my family and became his secretary . i have been with him for 10 years , i am now grown up , but he still loves me and i sleep with him . "

he is wearing fake breasts and bells around his ankles . someone offers him some us dollars and he grabs them with his teeth .

i spent months trying to find a bacha who was willing to talk about his experience .

" we were hungry , i had no choice . sometimes we go to bed on empty stomachs . when i dance at parties i earn about $ 2 or some pilau rice . "

i ask him what happens when people take him to hotels . he bows his head and pauses for a long time before answering .

" if we find any man practising it we ' ll punish them . "

" bachabaze is in no way acceptable in islam . actually , it ' s child abuse . it ' s happening because our justice system doesn ' t work .

" this country has been lawless for many years and responsible bodies and people can ' t protect children , " he explains .

every afghan i spoke to knew about bachabaze . many tried to convince me that it exists only in remote areas .

" some people like dog fighting , some practice cockfighting . everyone has their hobby , for me , it ' s bachabaze , " he says .

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' where do you live , so i can get to know your father .

' but they live as though they are in a relationship with their masters , so their masters keep them , house them and buy them food and things .

' nobody admitted to us they were bacha bereesh . they don ' t want to talk about it . if they want to marry , nobody can know . no family wants to give their daughter to these people .

' nobody admitted they were bacha bereesh . they don ' t want to talk about it .

speaking to reuters in 2007 , ahmad , then 17 , revealed : ' i love my lord . i love to dance and act like a woman and play with my owner .

' it is a a psychological trauma , ' said dr sobhrang . ' they think they can continue like a bacha baz .

sydney tower skywalk was ' shut down due to unsafe winds ' . . .

' this is no sell - out ' : theresa may insists she has chosen . . .

gunman blasts car driven by woman , 51 , three times as she . . .

' we only knew each other between action and cut ' : robin . . .

' we know where you live ' : angry protesters confront mitch . . .

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lawsuit challenges delays on u . s . immigrant visa applications for afghan , iraqi allies

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our lady of the sphere is a 1972 experimental film directed by larry jordan .

the experimental film features various imagery through juxtaposed with symbols and images from themes such as antiquity to the space age , accompanied by alternating backgrounds , before the film ends in a garden .

in 2010 , it was selected for preservation by the national film registry .

our lady of the sphere

our lady of the sphere <EOT> our lady of the sphere ( 1969 ) a leading figure in the california bay area independent film movement , lawrence jordan has crafted more than 40 experimental , animation and dramatic films . jordan uses “found” graphics to produce his influential animated collages , noting that his goal is to create “unknown worlds and landscapes of the mind . ” inspired by “the tibetan book of the dead , ” “our lady of the sphere” is one of jordan’s best - known works . it is a surrealistic dream - like journey blending baroque images with victorian - era image cut - outs , iconic space age symbols , various musical themes and noise effects , including animal sounds and buzzers .

buzzing comedies such as the spy who dumped me await you in our summer movie guide . check in for all the info you need .

“animation . the mystical lady with the orbital head moves through the carnival of life in a surreal adventure . a classic . show it to anyone who likes movies . ” – larry jordan

of all my films , this is the most popular to date . unfortunately , it is also the most cartoon - like and has an almost visible storyline : the young boy ' s travels through terror , death and the underworld . my own conception of the circus sequence in the film connotes the world ' s weakness for striking up the band to cover tragedy , as when someone falls from a high wire in the circus . i did achieve certain special " break - throughs " with our lady of the sphere , in that the flat surface was broken with forward and away zooms , but this is a simple thing . in the process , i had to relinquish certain subtle and more tenuous relationships between moving components and also the highly artificial gravitational formulations and inventions of such films as duo concertantes and hamfat asar . - lawrence jordan

“as the nation’s repository of american creativity , the library of congress—with the support of the u . s . congress—must ensure the preservation of america’s film patrimony , ” said billington . “the national film registry is a reminder to the nation that the preservation of our cinematic creativity must be a priority because about half of the films produced before 1950 and as much as 90 percent of those made before 1920 have been lost to future generations . ”

1 . airplane ( 1980 ) 2 . all the president’s men ( 1976 ) 3 . the bargain ( 1914 ) 4 . cry of jazz ( 1959 ) 5 . electronic labyrinth : thx 1138 4eb ( 1967 ) 6 . the empire strikes back ( 1980 ) 7 . the exorcist ( 1973 ) 8 . the front page ( 1931 ) 9 . grey gardens ( 1976 ) 10 . i am joaquin ( 1969 ) 11 . it’s a gift ( 1934 ) 12 . let there be light ( 1946 ) 13 . lonesome ( 1928 ) 14 . make way for tomorrow ( 1937 ) 15 . malcolm x ( 1992 ) 16 . mccabe and mrs . miller ( 1971 ) 17 . newark athlete ( 1891 ) 18 . our lady of the sphere ( 1969 ) 19 . the pink panther ( 1964 ) 20 . preservation of the sign language ( 1913 ) 21 . saturday night fever ( 1977 ) 22 . study of a river ( 1996 ) 23 . tarantella ( 1940 ) 24 . a tree grows in brooklyn ( 1945 ) 25 . a trip down market street ( 1906 )

grey gardens ( 1976 ) “grey gardens” is an influential cinema verité documentary by albert and david maysles that has provided inspiration for creative works on the stage and in film . through its close and sometimes disturbing look at the eccentric lives of “big edie” and “little edie” beale , two women ( cousins of former first lady jacqueline kennedy ) living in east hampton , n . y . , the film documents a complex and difficult mother - daughter relationship and a vanished era of decayed gentility .

the setting with the low walls and river views is located in a private area of the cloisters museum .

a short film which explores the last day in the lives of six different people .

the empire strikes back ( 1980 ) the much anticipated continuation of the “star wars” saga , irvin kershner’s 1980 sequel sustained the action - adventure and storytelling success of its predecessor and helped lay the foundation for one of the most commercially successful film series in american cinematic history .

malcolm x ( 1992 ) director spike lee’s biographical film about the life of civil rights leader malcom x was produced in the classical hollywood style . featuring an oscar - nominated performance by denzel washington , the film exemplifies the willingness of the american film industry in the early ‘90s to support the making of mainstream films about earlier generations of social leaders .

the tomatometer rating – based on the published opinions of hundreds of film and television critics – is a trusted measurement of movie and tv programming quality for millions of moviegoers . it represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show .

in the film masquerade , we enter the experience of death with respect and reverence . the clouds disperse and the scene is revealed . as with all of lawrence jordan ' s films , the narrative is implied and can be viewed in a variety of ways .

fantastic landscapes of the mind is what makes the unique work of san francisco animator larry jordan so compelling . with a taste for nostalgic romanticism for intricate turn - of - the - century illustrations , jordan creates a magical universe of work using old steel engravings and collectable memorabilia . his 50 - year pursuit into the subconscious mind gives him a place in the annals of cinema as a prolific animator on a voyage into the surreal psychology of the inner self .

preservation of the sign language ( 1913 ) presented without subtitles , “preservation” is a short , one - reel film featuring george veditz , onetime president of the national association of the deaf ( nad ) of the united states , demonstrating in sign language the importance of defending the right of deaf people to sign as opposed to verbalizing their communication . deafened by scarlet fever at the age of eight , veditz was one of the first to make motion - picture recordings of american sign language . taking care to sign precisely and in large gestures for the cameras , veditz chose fiery biblical passages to give his speech emotional impact . in some of his films , veditz used finger spelling so his gestures could be translated directly into english in venues where interpreters were present . on behalf of the nad , veditz made this film specifically to record sign language for posterity at a time when oralists ( those who promoted lip reading and speech in lieu of sign language ) were gaining momentum in the education of the hearing - impaired . the film conveys one of the ways that deaf americans debated the issues of their language and public understanding during the era of world war i .

the exorcist ( 1973 ) “the exorcist” is one of the most successful and influential horror films of all time . its influence , both stylistically and in narrative , continues to be seen in many movies of the 21st century . the film’s success , both commercially and cinematically , provides a rare example of a popular novel being ably adapted for the big screen .

, based on the coldridge poem , had orson welles as the narrator . illustrations by gustav doré form the visual compositions of the intricate trains of free thought woven into moods and feelings brought about through free association .

the year 2010 will mark yet another december to remember in film preservation . librarian of congress james h . billington today named 25 motion pictures—hollywood classics , documentaries and innovative shorts reflecting genres from every era of american filmmaking—to the national film registry of the library of congress .

lawrence jordan took not only the music but the title from erik satie . gymnopedies is probably the most famous of satie ' s musical series .

study of a river ( 1996 ) experimental filmmaker peter hutton is best known for his thoughtful and beautifully photographed ruminations on the co - existence of urban areas and natural waterways . his most renowned films focused on the hudson river . “study of a river” is a meditative examination of the winter cycle of the hudson river over a two - year period , showing its environment , ships plying its waterways , ice floes , and the interaction of nature and civilization . some critics have described hutton’s work as reminiscent of the 19th century artist thomas cole and other painters of the hudson river school .

under the terms of the national film preservation act , each year the librarian of congress names 25 films to the national film registry that are “culturally , historically or aesthetically” significant , to be preserved for all time . these films are not selected as the “best” american films of all time , but rather as works of enduring significance to american culture .

five years in the making , lawrence jordan ' s feature - length " alchemical autobiography " sophie ' s place takes as its inspiration the story of the greek goddess of wisdom , sophia .

for his next film , jordan decided to use animation and ( mostly ) live - action techniques in the form of a biodocumentary mixed with segments of the work of the imagist poet hd ( hilda doolittle ) , in particular , her poem " hermetic definitions . " the

images of street life in new york ' s spanish harlem during the 1940s .

annual selections to the registry are finalized by the librarian after reviewing hundreds of titles nominated by the public ( this year 2 , 112 films were nominated ) and having extensive discussions with the distinguished members of the national film preservation board , as well as the library’s motion - picture staff . the librarian urges the public to make nominations for next year’s registry at the film board’s website ( www . urltoken ) .

jordan has fond memories of cornell as a cultural eccentric , passionate about poetic engagement within the context of his " monologues . "

the poet dreams a maiden ' s bubbles through edifices of forest and eclectic contagion .

library of congress > news from the library of congress > 2010 > hollywood blockbusters , independent films and shorts selected for . . .

born in denver , colorado , in 1934 , jordan was introduced to filmmaking by stan brakhage , one of the pioneers of american experimental film . as classmates , they began to investigate the possibilities of filmed " psychodrama , " a form of free - association using dream imagery . one of jordan ' s earliest films ,

the pink panther ( 1964 ) this comic masterpiece by blake edwards introduced both the animated pink panther character in the film’s opening - and - closing credit sequences , and actor peter sellers in his most renowned comic role as the inept inspector clouseau . the influence of the great comics of the silent era on edwards and sellers is apparent throughout the film , which is recognized for its enduring popularity . the musical score composed by henry mancini is also memorable .

airplane ! ( 1980 ) “airplane ! ” emerged in 1980 as a sharply perceptive parody of the big - budget disaster films that dominated hollywood during the 1970s . characterized by a freewheeling style reminiscent of comedies of the 1920s , “airplane ! ” introduced a much - needed deflating assessment of the tendency of theatrical film producers to push successful formulaic movie conventions beyond the point of logic . one of the film’s most noteworthy achievements was to cast actors best known for careers in melodrama productions , e . g . , leslie nielsen , and provide them with opportunities to showcase their comic talents .

it’s a gift ( 1934 ) the popularity and influence of w . c . fields continues with each succeeding generation , distinguishing him as one of the greatest american comedians of the 20th century . “it’s a gift” has survived a perilous preservation history and is the third fields film to be named to the national film registry . the film’s extended comic sequence featuring baby leroy , and depicting fields’ travails while trying to sleep on the open - air back porch of a rooming house , was adapted from one of his most successful live theatrical sketches .

the bargain ( 1914 ) after beginning his career on the stage ( where he originated the role of messala in “ben - hur” in 1899 ) , william s . hart found his greatest fame as the silent screen’s most popular cowboy . his 1914 “the bargain , ” directed by reginald barker , was hart’s first film and made him a star . the second hart western to be named to the national film registry , the film was selected because of hart’s charisma , the film’s authenticity and realistic portrayal of the western genre and the star’s good / bad man role as an outlaw attempting to go straight .

spanning the period 1891 - 1996 , the films named to the registry range from a rare glimpse of san francisco before the 1906 earthquake and the political thriller “all the president’s men” to george lucas’ student film in 1967 and his sci - fi special - effects extravaganza “the empire strikes back . ” also included in the registry are lesser - known , but culturally vital films such as the black independent film “cry of jazz , ” luis valdez’s “i am joaquin” and john huston’s war documentary “let there be light , ” which was banned by the war department for 35 years . this year’s selections bring the number of films in the registry to 550 .

. he forsees these films taking 10 years to complete , but patience is a virtue in the work of larry jordan . both films intend to bring a mystical wheel of images into view , as his interests remain in the deep realm of spirtiual mysticism , from ancient egypt through the medieval kabbalah to the present . he seems to have a monumental task ahead of him .

for each title named to the registry , the library of congress packard campus for audio visual conservation works to ensure that the film is preserved for future generations , either through the library’s massive motion - picture preservation program or through collaborative ventures with other archives , motion - picture studios and independent filmmakers . the packard campus is a state - of - the - art facility where the nation’s library acquires , preserves and provides access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of films , television programs , radio broadcasts and sound recordings ( urltoken / ) . the packard campus is funded as a gift to the nation by the packard humanities institute and is home to more than six million collection items . the facility provides staff support for the library of congress national film preservation board , the national recording preservation board and the national registries for film and recorded sound .

newark athlete ( 1891 ) produced may - june 1891 , this experimental film was one of the first made in america at the edison laboratory in west orange , n . j . the filmmakers were w . k . l . dickson and william heise , both of whom were employed as inventors and engineers in the industrial research facility owned by thomas edison . heise and especially dickson made important technical contributions during 1891 - 1893 , leading to the invention of the world’s first successful motion picture camera—the edison kinetograph—and to the playback device required for viewing early peepshow films—the edison kinetoscope .

jackie leger is a santa monica - based documentary filmmaker interested in the roots of american experimental film .

a world is created , the resemblance , again , of the beginnings of film history . jordan re - makes , re - creates , and re - invents this film universe of the paste , bringing it to actuality with the simple and transparent use of ae , and contemporary technology . it is as simple as beautiful , building a very sophisticated , and easy to see , naiveness . - - lorenzo canina

a tree grows in brooklyn ( 1945 ) elia kazan’s first feature film , based on the novel by betty smith , focuses on a theme that he returned to many times during his film career : the struggle of a weak or ill - prepared individual to survive against powerful forces . a timely film , “a tree grows in brooklyn” was released at the end of world war ii , helping to remind post - war audiences of the enduring importance of the american dream .

a dance of shapes . a title card tells us this is an experiment in conveying the mental images of music in a visual form . liszt ' s " second hungarian rhapsody " is the music . the shapes , all . . . see full summary »

cry of jazz ( 1959 ) “cry of jazz” is a 34 - minute , black - and - white short subject that is now recognized as an early and influential example of african - american independent filmmaking . director ed bland , with the help of more than 60 volunteer crew members , intercuts scenes of life in chicago’s black neighborhoods with interviews of interracial artists and intellectuals . “cry of jazz” argues that black life in america shares a structural identity with jazz music . with performance clips by the jazz composer , bandleader and pianist sun ra and his arkestra , the film demonstrates the unifying tension between rehearsed and improvised jazz . “cry of jazz” is a historic and fascinating film that comments on racism and the appropriation of jazz by those who fail to understand its artistic and cultural origins .

saturday night fever ( 1977 ) produced long after the heyday of classic hollywood musicals , this cinematic cultural touchstone incorporated set - piece music and dance numbers into a story of dramatic realism . with its success , “saturday night fever” proved that the american movie musical could be reinvented . the film’s soundtrack , featuring hits by the bee gees and others , sold millions of copies and gave musical life to a movie significant for much more than just its celebration of the mid - 70s disco phenomenon .

i am joaquin ( 1969 ) “i am joaquin” is a 20 - minute short film based on an epic poem published by rodolfo “corky” gonzales in 1967 . gonzales’ poem weaves together the long tangled roots of his mexican , spanish , indian and american parentage and a past mythology of pre - columbian cultures . the film is important to the history and culture of chicanos in america , spotlighting the challenges they have endured because of discrimination . luis valdez , often described as the father of chicano theater , produced and directed “i am joaquin” as a project of teatro campesino ( the farmworkers theater ) , which he founded in 1965 to inform , encourage and entertain chicano farm workers . valdez later directed the chicano - themed “zoot suit” in 1981 , a retelling of the early 1940s los angeles race riots , and “la bamba” in 1987 .

the front page ( 1931 ) “the front page” is a historically significant early sound movie that successfully demonstrates the rapid progress achieved by hollywood filmmakers in all creative professions after realizing the capabilities of sound technology to invent new film narratives . the film is based on one of the best screenplays of the 1930s by ben hecht and charles macarthur . it was directed by lewis milestone and featured great performances by pat o’brien , adolphe menjou , mary brian , edward everett horton , walter catlett , mae clark , slim summerville , matt moore and frank mchugh .

let there be light ( 1946 ) director john huston directed three classic war documentaries for the u . s . army signal corps during the period of 1943 - 46 : “report from the aleutians , ” “battle of san pietro” and “let there be light . ” “let there be light” was blocked from public distribution by the war department for 35 years because no effort was made during filming to disguise or mask the identities of combat veterans suffering from various forms of psychological trauma . the film provides important historical documentation of the efforts of psychiatric professionals during world war ii to care for emotionally wounded veterans and prepare them to return to civilian life . “let there be light” was filmed by cinematographer stanley cortez and its score was composed by dimitri tiomkin .

, an 84 minute feature , between 1983 - 87 . the 129 , 600 single - framed images revolve around the mosque of saint sofia in " constantinople . " again , the complex world of fine art engravings are interlaced with mysterious trees and castles , while objects change objects through rapid montage , leaving the viewer immersed in a visual web of experience . like a stream of consciousness meditation , this epic reflects on sophia , godess of wisdom and includes cutouts ranging from victorian prints to daliesque dreams . this awesome technique lets the film unfold in a magical and enigmatic way .

includes short filmed pieces of contemporary poet joanna mcclure as she journeys through ancient ruins and a mediterranean village , seeking to captivate doolittle ' s essence . born in pennsylvania , hd spent much of her adult life among the literary circles of england and europe . she died in 1961 at age 77 and " hermetic definitions " was her last poem . the idea behind jordan ' s film was to encourage viewers to discover the importance of the poet and her work .

yes more of a plot here , similar to alice falling into the well , and not as mystical as some of his other work , but it ' s exciting , and everything of his i ' ve seen makes me laugh out loud .

jordan attended harvard university from 1951 - 53 , where he became attracted to the work of surrealist painter max ernst . he also recalls , due to his active involvement with the university ' s film society , being influenced by the work of another surrealist , jean cocteau , and in particular

lonesome ( 1928 ) “lonesome” is one of the few american feature films directed by the gifted hungarian - born filmmaker and scientist paul fejös ( 1897 - 1963 ) . the film has been recognized for its success as both a comic melodrama ( about young lovers who become separated during the chaos of a thunderstorm at coney island ) and for its early use of dialogue and two - color technicolor . the film was restored by the george eastman house and has found renewed popularity with repertory and film - festival audiences .

( 1952 ) uses erotic visual references assembled in the style of the then in - vogue classic school of " russian montage . " brakhage made his acting debut in this film and both experimented with psycho - adventures throughout the 1950s , as did other early experimental filmmakers such as maya deren .

arrival in the bronx is shown with a view from an elevated train as it enters the city . then follows a montage of sights from the bronx . many typical neighborhood activities are shown , along with scenes from many local businesses .

calls forth a lyrical feeling . with every film , jordan tries to transform objects in space like humans might transform themselves in life . each cinematic journey uses a set of symbols to elicit thoughts and emotions of transformation . jordan believes that all his films come from the collective unconscious , not just in terms of archetypes or specific symbols , but in terms of mirror like fragments of ritual , cult and religious practices throughout human history .

all the president’s men ( 1976 ) based on the memoir by washington post reporters bob woodward and carl bernstein about political dirty tricks in the nation’s capital , “all the president’s men” is a rare example of a best - selling book that was transformed into a hit theatrical film and a cultural phenomenon in its own right .

a trip down market street ( 1906 ) “a trip down market street” is a 13 - minute “actuality” film recorded by placing a movie camera on the front of a cable car as is proceeds down san francisco’s market street . a fascinating time capsule from over a 100 years ago , the film showcases the details of daily life in a major american city , including the fashions , transportations and architecture of the era . the film was originally thought to have been made in 1905 , but historian david kiehn , who examined contemporary newspapers , weather reports and car license plates recorded in the film , later suggested that “a trip down market street” was likely filmed just a few days before the devastating earthquake on april 18 , 1906 .

like many other experimental filmmakers of his era , jordan came into his own remarkable style in the 1960s . his personal vision is symbolized in

in other news about the national film registry , “these amazing shadows , ” a documentary on the national film registry independently produced by gravitas docufilms , will premiere at the sundance film festival in january 2011 . more information can be found at the website (

when not engaged in the painstaking frame - by - frame process of animation , jordan works as a kinetic sculptor making three dimensional boxes from the same materials as his films . one might consider his art work as films in reverse . one thing is certain , jordan has brought the fine art of collage technique to a pinnacle throught his career .

electronic labyrinth : thx 1138 4eb ( 1967 ) this 15 - minute film , produced by george lucas while a student at the university of southern california , won the 1968 united states national student film festival drama award and inspired warner bros . studio to sign lucas to produce the expanded feature length “thx 1138” under the tutelage of francis ford coppola . this film has evoked comparisons to george orwell’s “1984” and impressed audiences with its technical inventiveness and cautionary view of a future filled with security cameras and omnipresent scrutiny .

during the 1970s , jordan exhibited internationally in galleries and specialized cinemas . it was a prolific time , in which he made several films of note .

founded in 1800 , the library of congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution . it seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections , programs and exhibitions . many of the library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at urltoken and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at urltoken .

make way for tomorrow ( 1937 ) “make way for tomorrow” is a sensitive , progressive , issue - oriented depression - era film by director leo mccarey . it concerns an aged and indigent married couple forced by their self - absorbed children to live separately in order to save money . the final scene , depicting the husband and wife parting company in a train station , counters the belief that late - 30s hollywood films always had happy endings . “make way for tomorrow” deftly explores themes of retirement , poverty , generational dissonance and the nuances of love and regret at the end of a long married life .

every jordan film i ' ve seen throws in everything and the kitchen sink . these would be more poetic if they were more restrained and has a logic other than lots of ernstiana zooming in and out all the time .

in the 1950s , jordan was spending time with stan brakhage on new york ' s lower east side / the bowery , where he had the chance to meet american collagist and surrealist joseph cornell . between 1955 - 65 , jordan studied and collaborated with cornell , who has remained a kind of spiritual mentor for his work . cornell , born in nyack , new york in 1903 , studied romance languages at philips academy before starting his own obsessive career collecting visual fragments from literature , dance , art and film publications to create masterpieces of collage , culminating in his dimensional boxes . cornell , also interested in the work of max ernst and the surrealists , also made a trilogy of surrealist films :

mccabe and mrs . miller ( 1971 ) “mccabe and mrs . miller” is an aesthetically acclaimed film that demonstrates why the western genre , especially when reinvented by acclaimed robert altman , endured in the 20th century as a useful model for critically examining the realities of contemporary american culture . the film’s credits include notable cinematography by vilmos zsigmond and a music score by leonard cohen .

tarantella ( 1940 ) “tarantella” is a five - minute color , avant - garde short film created by mary ellen bute , a pioneer of visual music and electronic art in experimental cinema . with piano accompaniment by edwin gershefsky , “tarantella” features rich reds and blues that bute uses to signify a lighter mood , while her syncopated spirals , shards , lines and squiggles dance exuberantly to gershefsky’s modern beat . bute produced more than a dozen short films between the 1930s and the 1950s and once described herself as a “designer of kinetic abstractions” who sought to “bring to the eyes a combination of visual forms unfolding with the … rhythmic cadences of music . ” bute’s work influenced many other filmmakers working with abstract animation during the ‘30s and ‘40s , and with experimental electronic imagery in the ‘50s .

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in a medium close - up shot of the first kiss ever recorded on screen , two fervent lovers cuddle and talk passionately at hair ' s breadth , just before the love - smitten gentleman decides to give his chosen one an innocent peck .

that inspired him to collect engravings , then refilming them into what became his first collage experiments . at the time , experimental filmmakers often looked to the world of art and poetry in their quest to develop a new filmic language using historical references .

1986 * sophie ' s place , 84 min . production began in 1983 . 1988 tapestry , 18 min . 1990 * the visible compendium , 17 min . 1992 the black oud , b & w ( sepia tint ) , 45 min . 1993 the grove , b & w ( orange tint ) , 45 min . 1994 star of the day , b & w ( orange tint ) , 25 min .

, a 17 - minute work which took 2 - 1 / 2 years to make and relates to an idyllic trip in a hot air balloon as an enigmatic journey . here , he also begins to focus on sound as collage by collecting audio bits and pieces as he did with pictures . the film itself is cut to the soundtrack , which mixed both recognizable and unrecognizable sounds , making it a true " compendium . " the film is a kind of a puzzle constructed from fragments of unnamed meanings and fragments of light - - light being the base for all film - - in which jordan wants the viewer to discover his own meaning in these films by bringing a personal predisposition into play . today ,

i found this a mildly intriguing , frustrating film . the ' plot ' is as described in the synopsis , with engraved olde - style ( presumably victorian ) cut - out characters such as astronauts - cum - deep - sea - divers and people with spheres for heads superimposed on engraved olde - style backgrounds coloured with black and alternating single other colours . music and sound effects accompany the images , and there ' s a repeating ' buzzer ' sound that interrupts , apparently at random and sometimes to comical effect , throughout . the most impressive part was probably near the end when the camera zooms through a series of scenes . ultimately though , i could hardly make any sense of it .

street life in east harlem in 1948 . " in the street " by helen levitt

vaguely carrollian , sort of terrifying . probably not best viewed if you ' re red–green colour - blind .

breathtakeing stop motion animation useing cut up , victorian & edwardian styled collages . brilliantly tells a story threw this old , forgotten medium we see little of now . the amount of time to make this long ago would now be unthinkable to mostly all artists . a leader in animation who happily was a frenchman .

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set to a classic duke ellington recording " daybreak express " , this is a five - minute short of the soon - to - be - demolished third avenue elevated subway station in new york city .

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today , larry jordan teaches at the san francisco art institute and continues his lifelong search into the possibilities for collage animation . he is collecting more engravings and visual fragments for two projects

( 1964 ) , heavily influenced by ernst . this nine - minute film used engravings as backgrounds and , while having no story line per se , jordan linked unconscious chains of events by motion . this moving collage won him many awards at festivals and paved the way for the more ambitious works to come .

moving spheres , such as balloons and bubbles , are superimposed on static backgrounds to suggest travel and discovery . there are perils : a boy falls , a lion roars . the lyric flights of . . . see full summary »

- - all using well - known sound tracks . in 1969 , he created what is considered one of his best films ,

a traveller arrives at the usher mansion to find that the sibling inhabitants , roderick and madeline usher , are living under a mysterious family curse : roderick ' s senses have become . . . see full summary »

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moving spheres , such as balloons and bubbles , are superimposed on static backgrounds to suggest travel and discovery . there are perils : a boy falls , a lion roars . the lyric flights of hot - air balloons , flying machines , and dirigibles , and their accompanying music of the spheres , are sometimes interrupted by a jangling buzz . circus images take over . then , mechanical rhythms abound while a balloon - headed doll , perhaps alien , moves through a jungle scene . we end in a garden .

poems narrate four afternoon vignettes ; each protagonist is older than the one in the previous sketch . as a girl skips rope in " game little gladys , " she sings a jingle about who she might . . . see full summary »

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looks like an utne magazine cover from 1994 promoting the new global economy . so steam punk i used it to clean my carpets . - abe

time and a change of culture have given a surrealistic and nostalgic aura to victorian steel engravings , as max ernst and several collagists between him and lawrence jordan have known for many decades .

breathtaking use of collage and color to create a weird surrealist world . this one is electric with electric colors . thanks for having it on your website . it is thought provoking and brilliant .

a spiral design spins dizzily . it ' s replaced by a spinning disk . these two continue in perfect alternation until the end : a spiral design , a disk . each disk is labelled and can be read as . . . see full summary »

press contact : sheryl cannady ( 202 ) 707 - 6456 public contact : stephen leggett ( 202 ) 707 - 5912 contact : to media : select high - resolution images and video clips are available for a limited time at urltoken .

manuel ' s fantasy travel through time goes from long ago ( episode 1 - o jardim proibido / le jardin interdit ) through now ( episode 2 - o pique - nique dos sonhos / le pique - nique des rêves ) , . . . see full summary »

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after gymnopedies , lawrence jordan had wanted to animate a film specifically for a pre - selected piano piece by erik satie . moonlight sonata is that film .

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and relies on pure intuitive filmmaking in its structure , a technique that works best for jordan ' s fine - tuned talents .

at this time , jordan began to focus on colored engravings . his short interim piece ,

please note , all films were done in 16mm color and sound , except where noted . films with an asterick

, b & w ( sepia tint ) , 9 min . production began in 1957 .