Born Into Brothels
The Age
Thursday January 19, 2006
DVD & VIDEO REVIEW: Born into Brothels, Hopscotch, 85 mins, M,Documentary, 2004
**** This Oscar-winning documentary that shows what happened when photojournalist Zana Briski, who had been photographing the workers of Calcutta's red-light district, turned her attention to their children. She gave the kids simple cameras and soon became aware that their ability to observe and make images of their world had other possibilities. Their photographic work could be used to give them choices, particularly the girls who would otherwise work in the brothels. With co-director Ross Kauffman, Briski explores the results of her endeavour: the film allows the children's personalities to emerge and their images have a vivid immediacy, but we're not allowed to forget the harsh realities of their lives or the complexities and pitfalls of the intervention Briski is attempting. DVD extras include photo gallery, deleted scenes, directors's bios and statements, kids' commentary.
© 2006 The Age