BORN INTO BROTHELS

This gorgeous documentary won an Oscar in 2004, and it is easy to see why. Born Into Brothels has everything: cute kids, unspeakable tragedy, strength under dire conditions, and redeeming art. By saying all that, I'm not knocking the film at all. I thought it was wonderful.

 In 1997, photographer Zana Briski went Sonagachi, a red-light district in Calcutta, India to document the women working there. Finding it difficult to gain the trust of the prostitutes, she instead found herself warmly adopted by the children living there. She ended up staying five years, choosing instead to focus her attention on the kids.

Seeing the potential and zest for life that these not-yet-jaded children and teens radiated, she decided to teach them the art of photography by giving each of them a point-and-shoot camera. Throughout the film, we are introduced to a core of her students, including the adorable yet shy Kochi, aged 10; the zesty tomboy Puja, aged 11; Puja's best friend Gour, a solemn 13-year old boy; and the talented Avijit, aged 11, who probably has the most potential to become a professional artist. Their photos are featured in the film, and we get to peek into Briski's "classes" (on the floor of an apartment) where she teaches kids how to create, look at, and appreciate photography as an art. It also unfolds, unbeknownst to the kids, how art can teach and heal.

Of course, what makes the film so urgent is the knowledge that, without intervention, these kids are predestined to get stuck in the cycle of poverty, crime, and prostitution. Suchitra, aged 14, lives in dread of being forced to join "the line" by her mother, who wants the extra income. Zana Briski and her crew can't help but get personally involved, as they frantically try to get the kids accepted into private schools, especially boarding schools (to get them out of the neighborhood before it is too late).

Born Into Brothels is the perfect movie for DVD, as you can't help but scream, "What happened to the kids?!?!?" once the credits roll. One of the extras on the DVD is called "Reconnecting," which updates the viewers, three years later, on the fate of all the kids. Another interesting piece shows the kids watching the full movie for the first time. It breaks your heart to see that adorable Kochi can't bear to watch the more brutal and bleak scenes, as it is still too raw and real.

The project spawned a gallery showing, then a book, and eventually an organization called Kids With Cameras, teaching the art of photography to marginalized kids to empower them. If the story of Born Into Brothels is the result of such an outreach, why, more power to them!