Best of Week: Born Into Brothels

I thought that the best thing we observed in class the week of 10/18 was the documentary Born into Brothels. What I liked most about this film, although not the only thing, was how happy these children were just to be learning photography. Avijit was already very artistic and when introduced to this new art form, he immediately enjoyed it. Every single child has something different to offer through their photo skills as well. Some take photos of their families, some of the streets of which they belong to. Each time one of them smiles, it makes me smile. This documentary has so far taught me that you need to pursue your dreams, because you never know where they will take you. These children have taken advantage of the opportunities that photography gives them, because otherwise they are not given much. Not one of the children let themselves be affected too much by their surroundings, either. They try to stay positive and enjoy their lives while they are young and before they are forced to grow up and become adults, whatever their responsibilities will entail. This documentary leaves me with a sense of hope after each day of viewing. It has also peaked my interest in Indian culture, whether that was the purpose or not. I could only hope to achieve something of this magnitude with my life and I extremely admire Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski for all their time and effort put into teaching these kids that there are ways to escape the pain of living in a impoverished brothel.