David Syphus
Prof. Carla Gurr
ENGL1010
MWF 10:00 a.m.	
Hopes of Heroes
Evaluation Essay
	What brings freedom to the enslaved?  There are heroes in this world endeavoring to eliminate slavery from the world.  Producers made this short documentary, “The New Heroes,” to persuade people to take a deeper look into the social crime of slave labor committed in third world India.  This film was able to captivate its viewers by giving valuable information presented by credible sources.  The film minimized the use of entertainment to preserve a thought-provoking and powerful setting.
	Hope enhances and drives the documentary.  Hope, for many, is the driving force to keep them doing what they believe is right and good.  Hope is “the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.” (Dictionary.com)  In this video, it is the hope of Kailash Satyarthi to put an end to slavery in the impoverished country of India.  Through this hope, Satyarthi desires to persuade the viewer to take some action against slavery.  Another persuasive figure in this documentary is the host and narrator, Robert Redford.  Because of his history as an advocate of independent films and his renown as an actor, Redford was ideal for this documentary. (Sundance Institute)  There is a certain appeal to the audience with Redford as the narrator.  In this way, the directors are able to surround you with concerned emotions for the slaves.
Besides using persuasion to propel the film, the producers enlighten the viewers by presenting unknown facts of the slave trade.  Much of the world does not confront the slavery issue.  Many do not understand the tragedy of slavery.  They also do not comprehend how slavery affects people throughout the world, especially in impoverished countries such as India.  The film guides us all to a better awareness of the difficulties of those countries.  This film gives us all overlooked information regarding the beginning of slavery for many people.  Often, “slave owners” do not strip people from their homes and bring them into slavery.  Because India is poverty-stricken, people have to sell themselves into temporary servitude.  However, these people never earn enough to pay off debts and a vicious cycle ensnares them, turning it from temporary to permanent.  Corrupt or inept law enforcement stimulates the slave economy by ignoring the crime or receiving remuneration from the trade.
Despite much needed information, the film needed credibility to be able to appeal to the world.  The inner workings of Satyarthi’s group give this film that credibility.  As you understand the problems that initiated the people’s servitude, you begin to understand that Satyarthi’s organization had to form detailed and well-planned operations.  As part of these plans, they engaged spies who entered these slave villages to gain the trust and liberate those they were trying to free.  Also, the financiers of the film—“The Skoll Foundation” and Calvert Investments”—give great credit to this film, as these financiers both have claim to being environmentally/socially responsible to the world. (Skoll Foundation) (Calvert Investments)
The color of imagination in this film brings the documentary to life and entertains, or entrances the viewer.  As the film progresses, you may find yourself taking part in the action and the intensity of the picture.  With a little anxiety, you find yourself tense, while you wait for the getaway truck to arrive.  Then, as the truck arrives, you find yourself excited in the moment that a possible triumph over the Indian Mafia may occur.  Throughout the film, the directors keep the viewer occupied with the possibility that at any time the mafia may apprehend the fleeing slaves.  Finally, in jubilation, the slaves escape and are able to participate in a celebration of freedom from their tyrannical captors. 
In conclusion, the persuasive power of a well-designed and well-funded documentary on slave labor in India provided a balanced synopsis of the information provided in the film as well as the credibility of the sources that made the film possible.  With a dash of entertainment, the observer was able to stay focused on the influence of the film.  This documentary brings hope that someday the human race will indeed eliminate slavery from the planet.  Only those that believe and have that hope will be able to bring freedom to all humanity—Heroes will bring freedom to the enslaved.

Works Cited
Calvert Investments. Calvert. 22 02 2011 <http://www.calvert.com/>.
Dictionary.com. 2011. 22 02 2011 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hope>.
Skoll Foundation. The Skoll Foundation. 22 02 2011 <http://www.skollfoundation.org/>.
Sundance Institute. Sundance Institute. 2011. 22 02 2011 <http://www.sundance.org/about/history/>.