Born Into Brothels
Watched the documentary film “Born Into Brothels” on 3sat today (more info: http://www.kids-with-cameras.org). It is about the children of the prostitutes in the red light district of Calcutta. While watching, I took a couple of notes about what impressed me most, which I would like to share here briefly.
A foreign photographer originally wanted to document the general living conditions there, but she stayed longer and eventually taught the children how to take pictures. They got their own cameras with which they photographed their environment from their own perspective.
The children are really cute (like all Indian children), but it was sad to see how knowing and grown-up they had already become through their experiences. Quoting one of the children: “Even if I stayed poor, I would be happy; you just have to accept that life is sad and painful, then you’ll be fine.” The father of a ten-year-old girl tried to sell her; she hopes not to become like her parents … Most of the husbands of the prostitutes are completely unable to do anything due to their addiction to alcohol and hashish, like the father of Avijit, a very talented boy. The adults are loud and constantly yelling at the children. Mothers try to make their own daughters “work” (read, prostitute themselves).
Because the quality of the children’s pictures was so good, the photographer organized an exhibition at a bookstore – radiant faces everywhere. Soon the attempt was made to provide them with an education through the Sabera Foundation. The Indian bureaucracy was not exactly helpful in this endeavor. Some of the parents took their children back to the red light district, and even some of the children left on their own.
After Avijit’s mother was burnt to death by pimps, he lost interest in school, did not take pictures anymore. He was supposed to travel to World Press Photo in the Netherlands … In the meantime, a lot of good things have happened, as you can read here. Book and DVD can be ordered there as well.