Garbage Dreams

In college, I did some volunteer work in Tijuana, Mexico and visited a trash dump, which was home to an entire community that made their living off of recycling waste from the landfill on which they lived.

When I got the email about a new documentary about three teenage boys growing up in the world's largest garbage village located on the outskirts of Cairo, I was intrigued. 

A hit at last year's SXSW Film Festival, "Garbage Dreams" highlights the 60,000 Zaballeen -- Arabic for "garbage people" -- who survive by recycling 80% of the garbage they collect. Potentially some of the "greenest" people in the world, the Zaballeen face the globalization of their trade. As a result, the young boys featured in the film are forced to make a decision about their own paths in life and the survival of their community.

"Garbage Dreams" is playing from now through January 12 at the IFC Center.  Director Mai Iskander will attend the 6:30 PM screenings tonight through January 10. 

To watch the trailer, visit www.garbagedreams.com. To purchase tickets to an upcoming screening, click here.