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Children of Chance
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Children of Chance
IDFA 2017

Children of Chance

Enfants du Hasard
Thierry Michel
Belgium
2017
100 min
International Premiere
Festival history

In the Belgian mining town of Cheratte, the young descendants of mostly non-Western migrant workers are getting ready for adult life outside the tight-knit community. They are under the inspired guidance of their teacher Brigitte Waroquier. At the start of the new school year, the experienced and worldly teacher welcomes a new sixth grade, the vast majority of which is Turkish. Many of the students' older cousins and even parents were also in Waroquier's class, and she knows each family intimately. Waroquier, her students and their parents are filmed for a year in and around the classrooms and on field trips. In addition to the standard lessons, Waroquier also covers more mature subjects such as the Brussels attacks, Islam, headscarves and Turkey—love, future plans and bullying get her attention as well. Filmmaker Thierry Micheltook students aside individually to talk about their plans for the future, their uncertainties and their lives at present. In these talks, it becomes apparent how some just repeat what their parents say. Others already think independently despite their young age—they are world citizens, proud of both their family background as well as the society they're growing up in.

Credits
Director
Co-director
    Pascal Colson
    Pascal Colson
Cinematography
Sound
    David Henrard,
    Sylvain Lejeune,
    Olivier Charlier,
    Jean-Sébastien Debry
    David Henrard,
    Sylvain Lejeune,
    Olivier Charlier,
    Jean-Sébastien Debry
Music
    Michel Duprez,
    François Petit,
    Romain Geuzaine
    Michel Duprez,
    François Petit,
    Romain Geuzaine
Involved TV Channel
    RTBF,
    VRT,
    TV5 Monde,
    RTS - Radio Television Suisse,
    Radio-Canada
    RTBF,
    VRT,
    TV5 Monde,
    RTS - Radio Television Suisse,
    Radio-Canada
Screening copy
    Les Films de la Passerelle
    Les Films de la Passerelle
World Sales
    Doc & Film International
    Doc & Film International