See only at the Castro Theatre, not available online.
Filled with wonder and imagination, Irfana Majumdar’s nostalgic and insightful period piece portrays a privileged family in Lucknow, India in the 1960s.
Majumdar’s feature debut delicately weaves together the personal and social lives of a wealthy family, while simultaneously delving into the postcolonial era in which India is newly independent but still remains exploitative and bound by caste and class.
Shankar, a village man with many skills, is an indispensable servant in the house of a senior police officer. His master’s young daughter loves his magical stories about fairy tales, and they share a close bond. Meanwhile, Shankar’s own daughter falls seriously ill in his village while he is away.
These complexities in the narrative explore the structures of class, caste, inequality, and social obligations. Loosely based on a story written by Majumdar’s mother, Nita Kumar, the narrative was filmed in the maternal family home.
Director Irfana has commented:
“The countless moments of daily life shape our future. In our childhood, we both witness injustice and experience wonder. The film asks: how do we reconcile with this? Who do we become? What do we remember?’’
