Despite winning an Oscar, the documentary Born into Brothels seems to have its share of troubles, read Amardeep Singh for the questions raised and other links. A review by Seema Sirohi in Outlook is particularly negative:
Born Into Brothels is being hailed in the West as the ultimate uplifting film, a
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March 6th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
Yes, for most of the review it seems like Seema Sirohi didn’t actually see the film. I’m still a little unsure. She only refers to the film itself for a paragraph; she might well be “bluffing”. In any case, her criticisms of the film are really rhetorically overblown. Whatever her failings, Briski’s methodology can’t be described as “missionary,” nor is it remotely fair to describe her advocacy for these children as “interference.”
Sirohi is more worried about Zana Briski’s backless gown than she is about whether there’s some truth in the film…
The decision not to show B-i-B in India might also be a defensive gesture — I have a feeling many reviews would sound like this one.
August 6th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
I personally thought it was a very dishonest and careless movie. Had Ms. Briski taken a course or two on basic ethnigraphic research techniques, she would have known better than to embark on such enterprise, that could only lead to leaving these children even unhappier and more disenfranchised than they were before! Just my humble opinion…
Congrats on your blog!
August 6th, 2005 at 10:09 pm
Inadvertently I managed to erase some comments while navigating through my software, so apologies to the posters.
August 7th, 2005 at 7:27 pm
August 7th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
August 11th, 2005 at 2:27 am
Yeap a lot of the critics appear NOT to have seen the film itself. Anyway, the kid’s own photography has raised more than $100k, which will go towards their education. She has empowered the kids to help themselves, which is something quite amazing in itself.
February 12th, 2006 at 2:58 am
The world we live in. Full of critiscs and those who will point fingers. Yet Ms. Briskis did something. Are the kids now worst than before ? Maybe, but now they how the difference of good and bad. We need people like her in the world who cares to make a difference. The price to build one atomic bomb, would be enought to educate 1000 kids in India. Think about that while others just point fingers. How do we know that ? We know choices, like those kids do now thanks to Mr. Briskis.
Fabio Cardoso
February 24th, 2006 at 12:39 am
hi there ! i have read, here u have wrote very impressive things abt films
quite intresting