British-born photojournalist Zana Briski overcame barriers of language, culture, and ethnicity when she immersed herself into an impoverished and illegal neighborhood in the Third World metropolis of Calcutta, India. An award-winning photographer, Briski befriended the children of Sonagachi (the city's red light district), starting a photography workshop for them and equipping them each with their own camera. The transformative power of this simple object is remarkable; within weeks, the children show new spirit and several have discovered a talent for the art. Briski and her co-director, Ross Kaufman, follow the children as they filter their marginalized, forgotten world through the camera lens. Over the course of the film, a central narrative unfolds--the children's quest, fueled by their newfound hope and strength, to leave the brothels for a better life.
The directors frame the children in extreme close-ups, caressing their features and capturing each subtle change of expression. By intercutting their own images with those taken by the children, the directors establish the distinct personality and voice of their subjects. Among them are Avijit, a rotund, serious 11-year-old of immense talent, whose mother is murdered by her pimp during the filming; Kochi, a quiet slip of a girl, destined to follow the family line of prostitution; and Puja, a feisty tomboy whose tenacity allows her to photograph the district's most dangerous areas. Though the beauty of the story is marred by tragedy and heartbreak, this fine documentary is ultimately a testament to the immense power of art, even in the bleakest of environments.
