One feels manipulated rather than enlightened.
Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids
2004 · 1h 25m · R
Documentary
Directed by
Zana Briski
,
Ross Kauffman
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Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids
Overview
Documentary depicting the lives of child prostitutes in the red light district of Songachi, Calcutta. Director Zana Briski went to photograph the prostitutes when she met and became friends with their children. Briski began giving photography lessons to the children and became aware that their photography might be a way for them to lead better lives.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
A beautifully made essay on a filmmaker's efforts to teach the children of Calcutta's prostitutes the fine art of photography.
The film says all it needs to say through the photos of the kids and their excited, wide-eyed reactions when they realize the outside world is paying attention to them.
It's one of the most inspiring finales I've seen in a long while.
Born Into Brothels is great humanitarianism, but it's not great filmmaking.
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