Babies.

In 2010 the documentary film Babies was released. You may have seen the trailer which depicts four babies from across the world being filmed from their birth up until they reach their first birthday.  If not here it is:

I had been meaning to watch this film for ages but only got around to watching it last week. Now, I've always actually liked babies and children, so if your one of those people who are not so fond of screaming and crying - it's still worth watching. Why?

Let me explain. When I was about 15 my friend gave me  Bertrand Russell's book - On Education. I was fascinated by this book which really explained how the first few years of the life of a baby can really shape his/her personality and how in fact the first three years are the most important years to teach  love, compassion, trust and empathy. (A book I truly recommend to current parents as well as soon-to-be parents as not only does it focus on the first few years of life of a human being but also explores the importance and different manners of education up until around puberty.)

There have been many studies and debates since Russell's book which was published in 1926 that validate the idea that, yes indeed, the first few years of a baby's life are extremely important in shaping personality and world-perception (Freud would be nodding his head). Even though it is clearly not just limited to these years); the brain is like plastic and continues to be shaped as we grow, with ever new neurological connections that can be formed till our dying day.

Anyway, this book actually got me thinking about the first three years of my life, which were in Nigeria. How much did my environment affect me? After all environment physically changes brain structure (obviously I am not forgetting the importance of gene structure but that is another issue). Not only does environment affect us, but our interaction with parents/people/culture on a day by day basis. How much have we all been affected by our early years? External stimulus affect the way we experience and perceive the world...And that's what this film allows you to question even more.

This film is fascinating just to see the differences in how babies are brought up in only four diverse cultures around the world but also shows how similar we are when it comes to our fundamental or natural desires and instincts.

Additionally, the cinematography is absolutely fantastic. Rotten tomatoes has given the film a 69% (which is pretty good for Rotten) and IMDB a 6.7. Some of the criticism Thomas Balmes, the director, has received, is for not having a 'purpose' to the film. I would aruge that this film does not need a purpose. It is just a beautiful documentary capturing very real moments in people's lives - and that in itself is a purpose.

This documentary really does make you realise how much of a journey we have all taken... We have all learnt to proudly crawl on all fours and finally conquer the first step; and as Laozi, the founder of Taoism, put it ever so eloquently - "a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."