Delupi

The July Revolution ripples through river-veined Delupi, in southwestern Bangladesh, in this timely political drama. A power struggle between the village’s elder leaders and young dissidents breaks out as they attempt to navigate the aftermath of a disaster and the new state of their country.

The national uprising and a massive flood hit the region of Delupi one after another, plunging it into a state of crisis. Tensions arise as villagers try to make ends meet against all odds in the film’s web of stories. Emerging from hiding, a local politician pulls strings to rebuild the region, clashing with a social media-savvy young activist who has very different ideas about how things should be run. Meanwhile, a folk theatre group questions their survival in this power vacuum while trapped in a state of perpetual rehearsals. Amid this chaos, two lovers dream of an escape from the binds of class divides and village rivalries.

With echoes of Bangladesh’s youth-initiated July Revolution still ringing in the world, Delupi radically throws the audience into the present through depictions of local events as a microcosm of national politics. Grounded by lively scenes of communal gatherings and featuring non-professional actors from the region, Mohammad Touqir Islam’s debut feature pays tribute to the resilience of the people. It also issues a strong demand for their political rights in this ongoing struggle of survival.

– Dini Adanurani

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