Movie : The Crow's Egg (8/10)

I started the year with films that zapped the energy from me – Birdman, Whiplash, Foxcatcher and Ex Machina - all had bullying themes, I’m ending it in much more positive way.Warning: if you watch Crow’s Nest, it will make you want to go over to India and buy pizza all round for those stigmatised and living in the unconceivable slums.The film follows the story of a mother living in the slums with the two children and her mother in law. Her husband is in prison for un-explained reason but we’re left to guess it’s something menial done at a desperate time.The title refers to brothers obsession with swallowing raw egg, said to be good for them, stolen in rather an elaborate way from a crow's nest.I love that the young boy’s only aspiration is to afford to buy pizza ( around £3 as far as I can ascertain, a month’s salary). Unknown to their mum and along with his little brother, they work all day on the rail tracks picking up coal dropped from the passing trains to sell. Yes it’s as dangerous as it sounds.When they finally have enough money, they are humiliatingly turned away from pizza place and this is filmed by another child as a joke but it goes viral.There is funny scene as reporter is filming a report with the slums as back drop (she has to credit the cameraman by name, I assume because she is a mere woman) and the very two boys she is telling the story about are shoed out of the way as they nearly walk in front of the camera.A joy of a film and a must-see.8/10Smile factor 9/10