About a week ago I watched this documentary called Born into Brothels, a story about a woman photographer who goes to Sonagchi, Calcutta to document the lives of women who make their living by being prostitutes. Trailer below:
But what happens is that she gets attached to the children of these women, and decides to start a school to teach these children how to photograph as well. After a while, and after she witness the enormous potential and talent untapped in these amazing boys and girls, she tries to remove them from their dangerous environment and enroll them into boarding schools, as to make sure that they will not turn into their parents.
I definitely recommend seeing this film, and I guarantee it will be both moving and heart-wrenching. But there are many ethical questions that this movie unintentionally provokes. Is it ethical to use hidden cameras to photograph the lives of people, especially if it shows them in a negative light? And is it ethical to profit from showcasing the lives of people who are incredibly disadvantaged? What happens if you take a picture or make a film of people who are in need? Are you now indebted to those people?
Watch the film, and read the reviews, as critical as they sometimes may be--it's worth discussing.
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