The Film Born Into Brothels By Zana Briski

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The documentary, Born into Brothels, shows the harsh conditions of Calcutta’s red light district. By using fast paced scenes and chaotic music, the film places the audience to understand exactly what the area is like. The purpose of the documentary is not to shed a negative light on the situation but show that there is a way to help the children who do not want to be subjugated to the will of their parents. As these children have grown up in such a hostile environment they do not really react to their situation as others would. When the children are interviewed they talk like the events which occur are just an everyday matter, which for them is exactly what it is. The documentary efficiently uses the key elements of a successful …show more content…
Within the film the filmmaker has included diegetic and non-diegetic sounds to evoke certain feelings, depending on the scene, which can intrusively tilt us into showing a large, out-cry to the circumstances which occur in the film. By emphasizing the circumstances of the film the audience is also enticed into agreeing with the actions of Zana Briski even further.
The documentary genre has five key elements which are used to give more meaning to them. The three main elements are Interviews, Cut-away shots and Observational Footage. It is obvious to the viewer that the interviewee is the children, in the interviews we can see the still emotion on their face, and we can listen to their voice and feel their pain. Seeing those faces give me an overwhelming amount of sadness and guilt that we should be trying much more to help rather that sit idly by as these innocent souls are plagued by their family and extended family. Through-out the film cut-away shots are used to show the filth that surrounds the children and floods their house. This is evident when inside their houses shots are taken …show more content…
It is clearly evident that they did exactly that. Due to the immense success of the film the children were helped into a better with education and a more promising future. This shows exactly how beneficial documentaries can be for people with extreme disadvantages. Born into Brothels has been very effective in demonstrating all of the issues of the red light district, this including the line, where the younger females join the line of prostitution. When in the street view we get a look at the line, showing the sad faces of the girls who have been forced to sell themselves, not given a chance to get an education or find a stable job, not only due to the family forcing them but the way society looks at them. It can be said that even if they were not in the “line” and still went for a job they would be declined for being the son or a daughter of a prostitute. Even with their chance at life their past will probably always haunt