Born Into Brothels
We didn’t actually screen this film in class, but we were going to and I wanted to post about it because I have seen it before.
Born Into Brothels is an award winning documentary about the children of the red light district in Calcutta.
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/born_into_brothels/index.html
Zana Brisksi is a photographer who travels to this city and teaches the children the art of photography.
These kids mother’s are prostitutes and they will grow up to follow in these footsteps. What Zana does is puts a camera in each of their hands and allows them to find beauty in the world. They have an exibit and she tries to use the money to get these children out of the brothels and get them an education.
It was debated whether her attempts to get them out were really successful or not because many of the children who were enrolled in boarding schools returned home shortly after.
There are reports however that many of the children continued into high schools and universities and got jobs out of prostitution.
What was the most moving for me was just how beautiful the photographs the children took were. Their artistic ability just blew me away. I found myself surprised because I had envisioned the children as poor, from bad backgrounds, and uneducated, not artistic. I would not have assumed that they would be talented, playful, and funny.
The film really opened up my eyes to the truth behind a stereotype I was believing.
I think that it was a great film, and I want to see it again now with a feminist lens.
I thought I would share because I think it would be worth finding and seeing since we didn’t get a chance to in class.
These are some of the children’s photographs:
Comments
You are so right because after seeing the documentary i felt the same way. Moreover, it felt good that Zana has made an attempt to think about those children.Also, it felt good thinking about that she has been working on getting them educated, it has given them a new life and a new hope to live.
What i like about this documentary is that,it's not stereotypical at all.
Posted by: angelforever_22 | July 7, 2007 6:19 PM
How poor people can live there and still be ahuman beeings?
Posted by: Caine | April 7, 2009 12:50 PM
This was such a moving documentary and it really inspired me..we watched it in my film & Television class, i would say Zana made an effort to show this children that they can make life out of prostitution because i believe and have the conviction that God created us for a purpose to glorify him and to impact others around us...This children are amazing and they got talent and they were so determined to learn and gain skills and explored their talents...I am so grateful to Zana..this is what i can call "CHANGING LIFE TO THE FULLEST"good work Zana..u played ur part and keep the good job!
Posted by: Tefo Kgamanyane Linchwe | June 7, 2009 4:48 PM
ould say Zana made an effort to show this children that they can make life out of prostitution because i believe and have the conviction that God created us for a purpose to glorify him and to impact others around us...This children are amazing and they got talent and they were so determined to learn and gain skills and explored their talents...I am so grateful to Zana..this is what i can call "CHANGING LIFE TO THE FULLEST"good work Zana..u played ur part and keep the good job!
Posted by: Tefo Kgamanyane Linchwe | June 7, 2009 4:49 PM
I appreciate you so much for publishing this great blog post. I enjoyed reading it.
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