The Invitation

  • 85'
  • India
  • 2019

Saurav Rai shot this, his first feature film, in his home village. The mainly amateur cast even partially consists of family members. The calm realism with long takes, acute asides, lively observations and hidden tensions aligns with the neorealism-inspired Indian film movement that counterbalances Bollywood.

The Invitation depicts relations in a mountain village in Darjeeling through the eyes of an uninhibited 10-year-old. Tashi and his grandmother are some of the poorest inhabitants. They do odd jobs for the landowner who is busy organising a wedding for his urbane son (Saurav Rai). The bridegroom's father dislikes Tashi, but this doesn't deter the enterprising young man from doing his utmost to get an invitation. A small incident has major consequences in this modest tale with universal appeal.

Director
Saurav Rai
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
India
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
85'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Nimtoh
Language
Nepali
Producer
Sanjay Gulati
Production Company
Crawling Angel Films
Sales
Saurav Rai
Screenplay
Saurav Rai
Cinematography
Appu Prabhakar
Editor
Jishnu Sen
Sound Design
Ankita Purkayastha
Music
Lokesh Kanithi
Cast
Pravesh Gurung, Sunil Rai, Chandra Kumari Dewan, Kamala Lepcha, Dig Bijay Singh Rai
Director
Saurav Rai
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
India
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
85'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Nimtoh
Language
Nepali
Producer
Sanjay Gulati
Production Company
Crawling Angel Films
Sales
Saurav Rai
Screenplay
Saurav Rai
Cinematography
Appu Prabhakar
Editor
Jishnu Sen
Sound Design
Ankita Purkayastha
Music
Lokesh Kanithi
Cast
Pravesh Gurung, Sunil Rai, Chandra Kumari Dewan, Kamala Lepcha, Dig Bijay Singh Rai