Mai Iskander’s Garbage Dreams //

01.21.10

byMarwa Helal

Mai Iskander’s Garbage Dreams goes beyond touching on the old adage, “One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure.” As director, producer and writer she gets close to one of Egypt’s most overlooked populations and problems, the Zaballeen and how privatization has taken over their means of living.

Garbage Dreams follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade who are growing up on the outskirts of Cairo in the world’s largest garbage village, Zaballeen — Arabic for “garbage people.” Home to 60,000 and far ahead of any modern “green” initiatives, the zaballeen survive by recycling 80 percent of the garbage they collect. When their community is suddenly faced with the globalization of its trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community.

Iskander captures the extraordinary world they live in. She has found compelling characters going through major rites of passage, while shedding light on an important international and environmental issue. This film also recently received a serious nod for an Academy Award in the category of best documentary.

Check the trailer out below and let us know what you think. For more on Mai Iskander and Garbage Dreams, read our exclusive interview with her here >>