Bay of All Saints

Filmed over the course of six years, Bay of All Saints follows residents of the now-defunct Alagados VI—a community of makeshift houses (palafitas) constructed on stilts in the ocean bay in the Brazilian state of Bahia—tracing the impact of a World Bank–funded effort to eliminate Bahia's slums. Director Annie Eastman focuses on three single mothers—Geni, Jesus, and Dona Maria—portraying the deep loss of community and independence they experience when the government initiates relocation efforts as part of an ecological restoration effort…without building promised subsidized housing. A refrigerator repairman named Norato serves as a guide into the palafitas as he makes his rounds, chatting with residents, playing with children, flirting with the ladies, and offering a sympathetic ear and occasional advice. The central trio face universal challenges: struggling to provide for their families, dealing with unemployment or minimum-wage jobs, forging ahead after a boyfriend absconds, or worrying over a pregnant teenaged daughter. In Alagados VI, youngsters routinely wade through trash-strewn water, since the residents use the bay beneath their homes as an open sewer, while also dumping garbage under the palafitas daily in the expectation that land will eventually form beneath them. The horrendous physical environment offers a sharp contrast to the women's pride in their hand-built homes; despite the obvious filth, they have dignity and enjoy “many happy moments.” Offering a profound examination of poverty in a community with a deep-rooted sense of place, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)