Review: Born Into Brothels (A-)

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)
Directed by Zana Briski & Ross Kauffman
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

An outstanding documentary about the children of Calcutta's red light district, Born Into Brothels is one of those rare films that lives up to the hype. Of course, as most know, Born Into Brothels won the Academy Award for Best Documentary of 2004, and in my humble opinion, it deserved it. An interesting subject (the children of sex workers) plus a powerful story (can they escape to a better world) makes for a fascinating film. Born Into Brothels is an insightful documentary that all should see.

Director Zana Briski spent years in Sonagchi, Calcutta, getting to know the sex workers of the area. The daughters of the sex workers had little chance of escaping - they are doomed to lives of prostitution, like their mothers and their mother's mothers before. Briski gave the children cameras and taught them photography in hopes that they could express their feelings through art. The photos were wonderful and as the program gained notoriety, Briski and co-director Ross Kaufman saw this as an opportunity to offer these children an escape.

The viewer cannot help but be drawn into this courageous film and root for the children to make it out of the red light district. Being born into a doomed future is tragic in itself. Not taking advantage of a potential escape seems all the more tragic. Full of insight, wit, love and yes, tragedy, Born Into Brothels is a winner.