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Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids - Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman

Threat advisory: Under evaluation

Movie propaganda

The most stigmatised people in Calcutta's red light district, are not the prostitutes, but their children. In the face of abject poverty, abuse, and despair, these kids have little possibility of escaping their mother's fate or for creating another type of life.

In Born into brothels, directors Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman chronicle the amazing transformation of the children they come to know in the red light district. Briski, a professional photographer, gives them lessons and cameras, igniting latent sparks of artistic genius that reside in these children who live in the most sordid and seemingly hopeless world. The photographs taken by the children are not merely examples of remarkable observation and talent; they reflect something much larger, morally encouraging, and even politically volatile: art as an immensely liberating and empowering force.

Devoid of sentimentality, Born into brothels defies the typical tear-stained tourist snapshot of the global underbelly. Briski spends years with these kids and becomes part of their lives. Their photographs are prisms into their souls, rather than anthropological curiosities or primitive imagery, and a true testimony of the power of the indelible creative spirit.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

  • Film documentary prostitution brothel children photography camera

Persons of interest

  • Zana Briski .... Screenwriter
  • Ross Kauffman .... Screenwriter
  • Zana Briski .... Director
  • Ross Kauffman .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

*

Media intelligence (DVD)

  • Audio: AC-3 Stereo Sound
  • Languages: Bengali, English
  • Picture: Fullscreen 4:3
  • Special features:
    • Trailers: Upcoming releases
  • Subtitles: English

Security censorship classification

M (Medium level coarse language, drug themes)

Surveillance time

85 minutes (1:25 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

DVD rental: 27 July 2005
VHS rental: 27 July 2005

Cinema surveillance images

Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids imageBorn into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids imageBorn into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids imageBorn into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids imageBorn into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids imageBorn into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids image

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