Globalisation hits hard in many places in India. In the 1990s, the country was shocked by numerous cases of farmers’ suicides. The first state where suicides were reported was Maharashtra, whose capital is Mumbai. Three years ago, 1044 suicides were reported just in Vidarbha, where the story of this Maharastrian director’s début takes place. Statistically, one suicide occurs every eight hours. The extreme weather conditions in this particular region and the government’s inability to help cotton growers drives desperate farmers to commit suicide in order to save their families. The government compensates the family financially, thus providing food for the children for at least some time.
However, the main character of The Damned Rain is an optimist who tries all alternatives to continue farming under unfavourable conditions. Concerned about the father’s mental state, the family keeps a constant eye on him.
Ending mysteriously, the film poses many questions and keeps this hot issue on the agenda. The main roles, performed by Bollywood celebrity Sonali Kulkarni and the acknowledged Marathi cinema actor Girish Kulkarni (actor, co-scriptwriter and co-producer of The Bull, which premièred last year at IFFR) add a special flavour of intimate psychological drama. (RS)
Film details
- Country of production
- India
- Year
- 2008
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2009
- Length
- 99"
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
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