The World According to Sesame Street - NR
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a serious documentary. It's not a collection of skits from the kids' TV series, nor is it geared toward younger Sesame Street fans. It examines how the show is produced in other countries and tackles complex issues such as poverty, war, and ethnic discrimination. Specifically, the film shows rioting in Bangladesh and Kosovo, images of South Africans suffering from HIV and AIDS, and burial scenes.
Families can talk about how the featured countries differ from the United States. What makes their cultures unique? How do you think Sesame Street producers decide what to change when they export the show to other nations? How can something as simple as a TV show help the kids in those countries?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Teresa Talerico
The Sesame Street characters are icons to everyone who grew up with the show in the United States, but what does the show -- which is broadcast all over the world in different incarnations -- look like in poor or war-torn countries? Is it relevant for kids in those areas, who struggle with problems like hunger, violence, and illness on a daily basis?
This fascinating documentary follows producers as they adapt the series for broadcast in Bangladesh, Kosovo, and South Africa. Along the way, they encounter challenges that range from the mundane (political red tape, post-9/11 visa hang-ups) to the disturbing (rioting and civil unrest, deep-seated tensions between Serbs and Albanians). But they persevere, because their brainstorming sessions with local educators convince them that the program can make a difference in children's lives.
It's intriguing to watch producers and their local teams work to make Sesame Street as culturally relevant as possible to each new audience. In poverty-stricken Bangladesh, for example, many kids leave school as young as 5 to go to work sweeping floors or collecting bottles; children's TV programs are rare. Sisimpur, as the show is called there, is designed not only to educate kids, but also to address the class and gender equity issues prevalent in Bangladesh. The show also features, in addition to traditional-looking, Jim Henson-style Muppets, some amazing creations by a local puppeteer.
Meanwhile, in Kosovo, where Albanians and Serbs live in segregated communities, separatist feelings are deeply ingrained in adults. The Kosovo team hopes that Sesame Street can reach the younger generation by promoting values of acceptance, tolerance, and peace. In one grim scene, locals remind the producers that the Kosovo program should include warnings about hand grenades, which kids often find while playing.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SESAME STREET also follows the development of an HIV-positive Muppet named Kami in South Africa, where many children either live with HIV themselves, are orphaned after their parents die from AIDS-related complications, or both. Although Kami initially raises ire among some American conservatives, she's immediately embraced by South African children.
The DVD extras include a history of the show, which first aired in the United States in 1969 and is now seen in more than 120 countries. The show's originator, Joan Ganz Cooney, is interviewed and likens her producers to missionaries spreading a message of learning and tolerance with these international co-productions.
Although it's a bit sluggish in the last half hour, The World According to Sesame Street is still a captivating look at a much-loved American phenomenon and its global outreach.
Families who enjoy this film might also like the documentaries Lost Boys of Sudan or Super Size Me.
Rate It!
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ViolenceSome scenes of rioting in Bangladesh and Kosovo; images of South Africans suffering from HIV and AIDS; burial scenes. Sobering images of poverty and flooding. |
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LanguageA producer blurts "holy s--t" when armed guards order her to stop filming at a Serbian checkpoint. Another producer says "s--t" a couple of times in frustration over production delays and describes someone as "intimidating as hell." |
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Social BehaviorPromotes awareness of global issues and the importance of education. |
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