Born Into Brothels (2004)

Academy Awards, USA 2005

Won Oscar

Best Documentary, Features Ross Kauffman Zana Briski

HBO/Cinemax Documentary
Directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Lions Gate)

Photographer Zana Briski visits a red light district of Calcutta intent on capturing images of the women who work there. However, she finds it difficult if not impossible to gain access. She comes up with the idea to give cameras to the children who roam the streets and let them take the pictures. They provide the access she was denied, but it leads to so much more. Realizing that without education their futures are doomed, Briski does the hard work required to get them admitted to boarding schools. When one of the kids shows a natural talent for photography, she gets him selected for a show in Amsterdam, though she has to work through the red tape of getting him a passport first. However, her efforts are not always appreciated by the families, some of whom actually withdraw the kids from the schools she worked so hard to get them into. Briski successfully integrates photos taken by the kids into her emotional story.