The children go on a fun trip to the beach.

Life in Calcutta can't be fun for a kid, but when your mother's a prostitute, it's particularly dismal. This stark but unsentimental documentary chronicles life in the notorious red-light district. Over the passage of five years, the abject poverty and squalor are documented in horrifying detail. The children are given hope in the form of Briski, a photographer who helps them find their own creativity by teaching them to take photographs. The photos are touching, empowering and sometimes humorous. A testament to the enduring spirit of human creativity.