Sunday, January 29, 2006

Born Into Brothels

After watching the first 30 minutes of this movie without the subtitles, it was well worth the wait! Our one DVD player wouldn't recognize them, so we finally pulled out our other one from upstairs and voila! We had a movie we could understand, well at least the language! What you learn in this movie in almost incomprehensible because it's difficult living in the cushy world I live in knowing that children are living in such abhorrent conditions.

The movie is beautifully executed, a glimpse into the lives of children who are raised in the red light district of Calcutta who have little hope for a future of any kind other than living in servitude either in prostitution or illegal services of some kind. They are smart, bright, witty and extraordinary children. The woman who was inspired to make this film began by documenting life in the brothels, decided to start a photography class for a group of children living in them (most who had never before seen a camera) and ended up using their pictures to try to provide better lives for them. It is an inspiring, eye-opening film about how a vision is birthed in the heart of a woman and how hope is given to a small group of children who later (you MUST watch the "reconnect" part in the special features) come to realize how amazing this gift of hope and life was for them.

There is no way you can watch this film and not have your heart break for children around the world who are living lives of poverty, filth and full of darkness. I would recommend this movie for anyone who needs a wake up call!! If your subtitles don't work, don't put this movie aside. Find a DVD player that can read them because it is well worth the hunt.

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