INTRO Modern Games & Lost Feelings - Child Play

Child Play (I Am Child) is a short documentary that explores childhood as a foundational space of learning, where play becomes language, memory, and a tool for awakening. Shot in Mali , Togo and Burkina Faso , the film highlights the deep impact of games

Through these moments, play is presented not merely as leisure but as a language through which children understand their environment, navigate social relationships, and construct memory. The documentary captures the textures of daily life—dusty streets, clay houses, schoolyards, and open fields—juxtaposing intimate close-ups with wide, observational shots to create a sense of presence and immediacy.

Child Play also highlights the cultural diversity of childhood experiences in West Africa, while simultaneously reflecting on universal truths: curiosity, creativity, resilience, and the instinctive desire to connect with others. By focusing on the gestures, laughter, and small rituals of play, the film illuminates how these seemingly simple acts carry profound implications for personal growth and social development.

In essence, the documentary is both a celebration and an inquiry: a journalistic observation that invites viewers to witness childhood as a dynamic, formative, and deeply human experience.