Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

  • Summary: This documentary is an inspiring look at the transformative journey of a group of extraordinary children in Calcutta's red light district. (ThinkFilm)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. 80
    Born Into Brothels will break your heart, then warm it up and leave you with that 7-Up longing to know what happens next to Zana's kids.
  2. Reviewed by: James Greenberg
    80
    This is a work of art so deep and resonant that it puts most narrative films to shame.
  3. Reviewed by: Helen O'Hara
    60
    Some gorgeous imagery – mostly in pictures taken by the kids – and heartbreaking stories, but the directors' appearances sometimes feel self-indulgent.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Dee
    10
    Its one of the best documentaries that not only touch your heart, but lite you up to bring your potential to something for the people. Its an eye-opener, I had never thought about those kids before! Now I am ready to adopt one of them. Expand
  2. PaulF.
    9
    Great documentary, a little slow though with an aburt ending. The children were magnificent, playful and full of life. My favorite scene is of them dancing on the bus shot with grainy film. The tales were harrowing to say the least. The issue of their mothers being Prostitutes was not what bothered me but it was the poverty, drug addiction, forced labor, child prostitution, slavery, pimping & murder (which the law turned a blind eye to) that bothered me. The caste system seems still to be in effect. But on a up note it was nice to see someone spend so much effort to try to help these kids out of an utterly desperate situation. And in the end some of them did seem like they really had a chance for a better life. Expand
  3. FrankO.
    9
    Well constructed, did not want to care about this subject but director pulled me in through introduction of kids.
  4. toms.
    9
    Moving and extraordinary.

See all 14 User Reviews