While Bermuda is often seen as an affluent paradise, “Poverty in Paradise” by filmmaker, Lucinda Spurling, gives an insightful look at the other side of life in Bermuda. The powerful film, commissioned by the Coalition for the Protection of Children, premiered on May 16 at Liberty Theatre.Filmmaker Spurling said: “We have made this film, showing the side of Bermuda that is often hidden away because we want to transform the assumptions held by many about why particular people live in poverty. This film is very powerful we hope it will affect the social and political will in Bermuda, transforming the way Bermudians understand their community and influencing the necessary policies to put Bermuda on a more positive and prosperous path for all.”The film features some of the mothers affected by the crisis and their everyday struggle to put food on the table. A Bermudian viewer said: “It opened my eyes to what these mothers are going through. As a mother myself, I can identify with the struggle alone to take care of and discipline your children, without losing the little patience you may have. However, my struggle can’t even compare to these mothers’ struggles. They have the constant struggle and stress of putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their children’s head, as well as themselves, and trying to be there physically for the children.”The documentary proposes that excessively high rent in Bermuda plays a huge part in these mothers being relatively homeless. “In 1991, big investor companies started to immigrate to Bermuda,” says the narrator in the documentary. “The workers of these companies then started to come here with their families, renting out places in Bermuda. Now, these mothers who were used to paying $1,000 or so for their rent were most likely not ready for the sudden increase required by homeowners. This eventually led to homelessness for many of the mothers.” One mother explains how she lived in caves and beaches all over the Island because she was unable to pay her rent.The documentary shows its viewers that many mothers have to get two or more jobs because one isn’t bringing in sufficient money to pay for necessities. Working two or more jobs, they are forced to spend less time with their children. This then can cause friction between mothers and social workers as they each attempt to take care of children. One woman featured asked a social worker why she was being miserable. The social worker reportedly replied that she was having a bad day. The mother then said: “Well, I’m having a bad year.”There was nothing left unsaid in this documentary which is a must-see for everyone, children especially, because it may make them appreciate more what they have and possibly motivate them to help others in the future.