i've been meaning to watch this film for a while now, and since then it's won an oscar. it seems like i disagree with oscars more and more, but this film definitely deserves the praise. after coming off watching jesus camp, my documentary taste buds were definitely sour, as i felt duped and talked down to. so it was extremely refreshing to pop in a documentary that treated its subjects w/respect and integrity.it was obvious that zana briski and ross kauffman had an authentic interest in being a part of these kids lives. the film centers on zana going into the red light district of calcutta india and trying to teach them photography as a way of expressing themselves and hopefully spurring their desire to leave the brothels. the film takes place over the course of years, and the relationships that zana forms are obvious and genuine on screen.
one of the great aspects of the film is that zana teaches the kids to use a camera and then they go out, take pictures, she has proof sheets developed, and they sit around and discuss the pictures they've taken. a little artist community develops and critique is exchanged and learned from as each student develops their own style. one of the kids, avijit, actually gets selected to go to an international photography seminar in amsterdam.
i walked away from the film feeling like i had experienced a complete picture of these kids daily lives and the conditions they faced. i felt like the film also had a very accurate and realistic ending which forces you to ask yourself questions about art, poverty, and investing in people's lives through relationships.
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