Watch Fireflies in the Abyss

Fireflies in the Abyss is a heart-wrenching documentary film following the life of a boy named Suraj who intends to escape his life as a coal miner in Northeast India. Directed by Chandrasekhar Reddy, the film takes a dive into the harsh realities of the coal mining industry of the region and particularly focuses on the lives of the children who work there.

The movie starts with the stunning visuals of Northeast India and introduces us to Suraj, a 11-year-old boy, who is working hard to earn his daily bread as a coal miner instead of going to school. Suraj's father is unwilling to continue his education due to the financial crisis they have been going through. The young boy spends his days crawling through dark, cramped tunnels, breaking rocks with a hammer, and carrying heavy baskets of coal.

As we follow Suraj deep into the mines, we meet other children who share a similar fate. The film sheds light on their lives and the difficulties they face each day. The young miners work tirelessly, putting their lives at risk to earn Rs.120 ($1.73) per day. They work in extremely hazardous conditions with no protective gear, underground in a cramped space with no room to move, and for endless hours. The daily labor is backbreaking, and they are often left cold and wet with no time for a break or enough food to eat.

Director Reddy follows Suraj and his companions' lives, their dreams and their aspirations, into a world that is unbelievable and tear-jerking. Amidst the conditions that the young miners face, the film showcases their resilience and how they are trying to find their place in life amidst the darkness of their livelihood. Reddy beautifully captures their spirit and hope, inspiring viewers to think about how small they make their own problems sound like.

The movie focuses on the challenges of the inhabitants of Chasnala, a coal town on the outskirts of Jharkhand, one of the poorest states of India. The children of the town have bigger dreams, but they are tethered to the mines under the weight of their poverty. The film gently highlights how it's not just their dream of a better life but also the constant vigil of the authorities and the mafia-like brokers controlling the mining operations that their sight is fixated on. "Do not report what they do not want you to" is an echo that reverberates throughout the darkness of the mines.

As we observe the daily crucible of the mines, the fractured family life of Suraj, whose father no longer wants him to study after his elder brother's sudden death, starts unfolding. Reddy films the custody battles, the irresponsible use of earnings on drinks and gambling, and the inability to voice his wishes to make something out of himself. Reddy's camera does not shy away from documenting anything negative, and the moments where the boy manages to express himself without scruples are sobering.

As the story unfolds, Suraj becomes our eyes into the lives of the miners. He is young and vulnerable, yet he dreams of a better future free of the mines. He expresses his wish to become an artist, and we see him drawing and painting under the dim streetlights. Watching Suraj paint stunning portraits on the dusty rocks while the daylight disappears, we get a glimpse of the passion he has for art.

In conclusion, Fireflies in the Abyss is a powerful piece of cinema that avoids the usual traps of poverty porn, dehumanizing stereotypes, and white-saviorism. Instead, it takes a simple yet direct approach of exposing the afflictions and dreams of those who have been pushed into a life of brutal labor. It is a film of compassion and hope, and it imparts the importance of every child's education as the only sure escape from poverty. Brave, optimistic, and deeply touching, Fireflies in the Abyss is an insightful piece of filmmaking.