Filmmaker shares vision with children 'Born Into Brothels'

Updated 10:00 AM October 1, 2007

Filmmaker shares vision with children 'Born Into Brothels'

This image titled ‘Girl on a Roof’ was taken by 14-year-old Suchitra for the Kids With Cameras project in Calcutta.

The Kids of Sonagachi: (first row) Puja, Monti, Tapasi, Manik, Shanti (second row) Sanchita, Avijit and Gour. This photo by Zana Briski appeared in the Amnesty International 2003 Calendar.

This image of a cab ride was taken by 13-year-old Gour.

This image titled ‘Running,’ taken by Gour, appeared in the 2003 Amnesty International Calendar.

Briski

By Jillian Bogater

The 2007 Mullin Welch speaker series will feature Zana Briski's award-winning documentary "Born into Brothels" along with a question-and answer session by the filmmaker.

The academy award winning best documentary film is a portrait of children growing up in Calcutta where their mothers work as prostitutes. Briski, a New York based photographer, gave the children cameras and taught them how to take photos.

The event will take place 2-5 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Michigan Theater. It is free but registration is required and can be done online at www.cew.umich.edu or by calling 764-6005. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Frances Daseler and Margorie Jackson, the two sisters of Elizabeth Charlotte Mullin Welch, established the speaker series in 1989 to honor and memorialize Mullin Welch's "gifts of creativity, strength of character and expansive vision."

"The Center for the Education of Women (CEW) uses those three touchstones to select the annual Mullin Welch speaker," says Kirsten Elling, associate director for counseling, programs and services. "This year, given CEW's own theme of global perspectives on women's rights, we also sought an individual who could enlighten us about an important international women's issue."

Thus, Zana Briski is the ideal 2007 Mullin Welch speaker, Elling says. The documentary "Born Into Brothels" offers a poignant account of the lives of women and children in the red light district of Calcutta.

"Anyone who sees 'Born into Brothels' will be struck by the persistence, creativity and commitment that Briski brought to her work with teaching and befriending the children of this Calcutta brothel," Elling says. "She spent years living there and became a part of the children's lives, teaching them to be photographers like herself and opening up new worlds of experience, opportunity and education. Briski's work and vision both embody the Mullin Welch message and exemplify CEW's focus on international women's issues."

Filmmaker shares vision with children 'Born Into Brothels'

By Jillian Bogater

More Stories