Extra Credit

On February 28, I went to the "Documentary Fortnight" screening series at MoMa and saw the film, "Housemaids" which was directed by Gabriel Mascaro. Mascaro gave a camera to seven young people to film their family’s housemaid for a week. In the process, the viewer learned about the lives of the housemaids as well as the relationship between worker and employer in the household. The lines between family and employee blend in this depiction of life for housemaids in Brazil.

The artist had the children film everything and then he edited what was suitable for the film. With the kids filming, you could tell they were all amateurs and it felt like a home movie, which made it appear more authentic. Close-ups were used frequently. With the children filming and asking questions from their housemaids, which they all were very close to, you could tell the housemaids didn’t feel as uncomfortable as they might have been if it was an unknown filmmaker asking them personal questions. They filmed the housemaids doing daily tasks, spending time with kids, singing or dancing, and talking about their life story. Many of the housemaids opened up about past marriages where some were victims of domestic violence, cheating, conning, or divorce. By showing the housemaids in a three-dimensional light, the filmmaker humanized them. We saw them laugh and cry, work hard, sleep, get tired, take care of children (more times their employers children rather than their own), cook, sing, dance, and pray. Many of these experiences are very relatable to the viewer.

         The question of freedom is the last question that is filmed. The boy asks his housemaid if she feels free. She pauses and says yes she does and the credits of the film role. I think the film set out to show the lives of housemaids and the way that their employers have impacted their lives. To them, they feel free because this job provides them with independence while also being able to have close and respectful relationships with their employers and family. However, to the viewer, one questions if, with the right circumstances, how far these women (and one man) who are housemaids would go if they had other opportunities to do something they are passionate about. The film makes you questions just how free these people truly are if their socio-economic status forces them to put their employers families ahead of their own.