Film Lens
Hand Held is a documentary about photojournalist Mike Carroll, who was among the first photographers to visit Romania after the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu's communist regime in 1989. Carroll documented the pediatric AIDS epidemic in Romania, capturing haunting images and stories that were published in major newspapers like the Boston Globe and New York Times. His work brought significant attention to the plight of Romanian children suffering from this crisis.
The film follows Carroll's two-decade commitment to aid these children through the organization he founded, Romanian Children's Relief (RCR). Directed by Don Hahn, the film premiered at WGBH in Boston and was selected for various film festivals, including the Heartland Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. It had its European premiere in Bucharest in late 2010, where Carroll and Hahn were introduced by U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein.
Why Watch
- •See Mike Carroll's impactful photos from Romania's AIDS crisis.
- •Meet the children affected by the pediatric AIDS epidemic.
- •Find out how Romanian Children's Relief was established.
Did You Know
•Mike Carroll was one of the first photographers in Romania after 1989.
•The documentary premiered at WGBH in Boston after a charity event.
•Hand Held was selected for the Heartland Film Festival and others.
•The film's European premiere took place in Bucharest in late 2010.
Perfect For
Photojournalism enthusiastsChild welfare advocatesRomanian history buffs