"Born into Brothels"

This last month, we had a free preview of the IFC (Independent Film Channel) on our Dish Network. I was really excited for this channel, because it features a lot of independent films and documentaries, which I love. I began recording movies like crazy to our DVR, and was pleased that most of the films on IFC were very good (as well as commercial-free). Yesterday, I had some time after I put Peter to bed for his nap, so I sat down to watch a documentary I had recorded earlier called, "Born into Brothels". You may recognize this film, as it was an Academy Award winner in 2004 for best documentary.

For the next hour and a half I was completely riveted to the screen. The story follows a young photographer named Zara (or "Auntie Zara" as she is affectionately referred to), into the red light district of Calcutta. There she finds herself drawn to the children of sex prostitutes and their lives of poverty, work and degradation. In an attempt to help these children better themselves, she gives them each a camera, and begins to teach them basic photography. She is amazed at the pictures the kids bring back every week (some of them are quite good), and contacts Sotheby's in an attempt to auction-off the photos to pay for their education.Zara takes the children on several field trips throughout the film, first to the zoo, and then to the beach (most of them have never even been outside the city) to play and take photographs. It was amazing to watch their faces light-up at a new discovery, or enjoy themselves for a day without work or other obligations. It was wonderful to watch them just be children. These kids had nothing, yet they were still positive and hopeful about life, in spite of their tragic circumstances. It made me so incredibly grateful for everything that I have, and everything I have been given. I tend to get so bogged-down in material possessions; things that I don't have, or wish that I had. Sometimes I just forget to see the bigger picture (no pun intended).

Eventually, Zara is able to help a few of the children get into boarding schools, and at the very least, she teaches them to be proud of who they are, and their photographic accomplishments. Zara is even able to take one of the more artistically-inclined boys to attend a photography gala in Amsterdam, courtesy of a sponsor. I left the film feeling alternately sad, yet proud of these wonderful children who made the best of a situation they clearly had no control over. I feel so blessed and grateful for everything that I have been given in this world. It taught me that I should never take anything that I have for granted.

*The photo pictured above was taken by one of the girls in the film, Suchitra.