These Birds Walk

In Karachi, Pakistan, Abdul Sattar Edhi—a venerable humanitarian often compared to Mother Teresa of India—operates a home for the city's many runaway boys. In co-directors' Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq's impressionistic cinema vérité portrait, taciturn Edhi is seldom onscreen (he does not seem to relish being filmed, and no biographical details are volunteered); instead, the camera rides along with the young men, who serve as drivers and errand-runners. Many of these runaways come from the most grievously impoverished districts, and sometimes claim to be fleeing abusive home environments (although it's clear that in some instances, at least, a sojourn in Edhi's shelter constitutes a kind of free vacation). At times, Edhi's drivers are the only ones available to pick up and give a proper Islamic burial to a dead youth. An interesting documentary charting how one inscrutable man "paying it forward" is able to make a difference while inspiring others (in a subculture seldom viewed by Westerners), this Hot Docs award-winner is recommended (C. Cassady)