Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids

Name: Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids
Genre: Documentary
Released: December 8, 2004
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 78

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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Born Into Brothels

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Movie Details & Credits

HBO/Cinemax Documentary | Release Date: December 8, 2004 | R

Summary: This documentary is an inspiring look at the transformative journey of a group of extraordinary children in Calcutta's red light district. (ThinkFilm)

Director: Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 85 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Ty Burr

This is the kind of film that reminds you of what movies, at their best, are capable of. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Creates such memorable images out of squalid surroundings that I sometimes wondered whether I was being distracted from the devastating stories of these kids by the beautiful cinematography. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

But as cynical as I may have been going in, I came out a believer. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Doesn't just bring you to the edge of the hopeless zone, it takes you right into its homes where the children play. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

This film carries us so touchingly into their world, it would take a heart of stone, finally, to ignore them. Read full review

Brad Slager

The brightest facet of the movie is that even as they face oppressive conditions they still persist with joy. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Designed to be "inspirational," yet it shortchanges the complex reality of the lives it makes such a show of saving. Read full review

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FilipeNeto

Jul 11, 2020

I don't know many countries where the difference between rich and poor is as stark and hard to accept as it is in India. The facts do not lie: it is the country that, alone, concentrates a substantial part of the gold and precious stones from all over the world. But all these riches are onlyI don't know many countries where the difference between rich and poor is as stark and hard to accept as it is in India. The facts do not lie: it is the country that, alone, concentrates a substantial part of the gold and precious stones from all over the world. But all these riches are only in possession of a tiny percentage of the population, or have been accumulated within monumental religious temples. Its a country where the most absolute misery exists in broad daylight and with an unarmed eye... or, in the words of one of the children who gives life to this documentary, where shoes are stowed next to the remains of rotten food.

Despite everything, I don't know many people who are happier and more positive than the Indians. Even in the toughest of situations, Indians can see the good side of things, smile, sing and be happy. They're a people used to the hardest work without feeling less relevant in the world because of that. And they are a people with historical roots deeply linked to my people, the Portuguese. The Portuguese presence in India was not always easy or well accepted. But we, the Portuguese, have been there for five centuries. We brought with us more than spices or gold, we brought characteristics and cultural habits that Indian immigrants know to recognize as theirs in our country today. And we also made our mark in India too.

This incredible documentary shows the toughness of the poorest in one of the largest and most chaotic cities in India. More importantly, it shows the way in which prostitution, despite being illegal and frowned upon by society, is done almost shamelessly and lives side by side with the childhood of many children, daughters and sometimes granddaughters of prostitutes. Indifferent to what is happening there, and to any moral issue, those children, especially girls, know that they will almost certainly have the same fate and end up doing exactly the same as their mothers, in a vicious cycle that is hard to get out of.

Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman tried to be the passport out of that cycle for a group of children and used art and photography to achieve this. By giving cameras and film to the children, they realized the beauty of many of their photos and the way in which these photos also testify to the harshness and squalor of those people's lives. The bonds of friendship and affection are formed, and we quickly see Zana trying everything to give those children an opportunity to study, to leave that place with the consent of their mothers and grandparents, to try to be something more in their lives. But the fact is that it will be an almost permanent struggle to escape the vicious cycle that, in India, spares no one and gives very few the chance to be somebody in life.

Intense, sometimes shocking, this documentary is relevant and quite sad. I wonder what happened to the children who gave it life, now that they spent almost twenty years on this documentary, which won a well-deserved Oscar. Their lives, I am sure, should provide material for another documentary.… Expand

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Dee

Mar 14, 2006

Its one of the best documentaries that not only touch your heart, but lite you up to bring your potential to something for the people. Its an eye-opener, I had never thought about those kids before! Now I am ready to adopt one of them.

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PaulF.

Sep 6, 2005

Great documentary, a little slow though with an aburt ending. The children were magnificent, playful and full of life. My favorite scene is of them dancing on the bus shot with grainy film. The tales were harrowing to say the least. The issue of their mothers being Prostitutes was not what Great documentary, a little slow though with an aburt ending. The children were magnificent, playful and full of life. My favorite scene is of them dancing on the bus shot with grainy film. The tales were harrowing to say the least. The issue of their mothers being Prostitutes was not what bothered me but it was the poverty, drug addiction, forced labor, child prostitution, slavery, pimping & murder (which the law turned a blind eye to) that bothered me. The caste system seems still to be in effect. But on a up note it was nice to see someone spend so much effort to try to help these kids out of an utterly desperate situation. And in the end some of them did seem like they really had a chance for a better life.… Expand

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toms.

Dec 21, 2005

Moving and extraordinary.

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gracjanski

Jun 14, 2021

Interesting topic. Fortunately it has a story, because it doesnt focus on the poor and criminal life of the adults, but also shows the ridiculous bureaucracy of India later in the documentary. And the end is depressing, but this is reality.

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FrankO.

Jan 9, 2006

Well constructed, did not want to care about this subject but director pulled me in through introduction of kids.

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