Plot Summary

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, came to Calcutta in 1998 to photograph the city's prostitutes, but soon turned her focus on their children. She decided to become a teacher to the children, giving them cameras and lessons in photography that ignited latent sparks of artistic talent and, in a few cases, genius. In turn, the photographs taken by the children - Kochi, Shanti, Avijit, Suchitra, Manik, Gour, Tapasi and Puja - 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.