There's more to Indian cinema than their popular Bollywood exports–much more. That's why programmers at Hibbleton gallery have opted to make their latest film series an ongoing introduction to the cinema of India. Films by Indian filmmakers, about India from non-Indians, from art house to documentary to classics to political films, Hibbleton'll host a menagerie of genres to sink your teeth into to enlighten, captivate and amaze viewers who choose to give them a chance.
This series barely scratches the tip of the proverbial iceberg in the range of Indian films that exist, but it's a start–a two-month start, even. Screenings start this Wednesday, and as always, you can settle in for some rousing discussion with Steve Elkins, who presents each film, at every film's end. Here's the full list of films to expect.
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Wednesday, October 15: Phantom India Part II: Dreams and Reality, A Look at Castes. Part of a series of films directed by Louis Malle that address serious issues in India.
Wednesday, October 22: Shipbreakers (2004). A documentary about Alang, India, whose inhabitants die from their arduous work breaking apart large ships. Also a screening of Phantom India Part III On The Fringes of Indian Society.
Wednesday, October 29: Jag Mandir (1991) and Wheel of Time (2003). Both films are directed by Werner Herzog about the sinking palace of Udaipur and the Buddhist monks' pilgrimage to the tree where Buddha was enlightened, respectively.
Wednesday, November 5: Gandhi (1982). The famous Richard Attenborough film with Ben Kingsley on the life of Mohandas Gandhi.
Wednesday, November 12: Early Indian cinema from the silent to the beginning of sound eras, including Sant Tukaram, Padosi, Humayun, and the 2012 documentary Celluloid Man about Indian film archivist P.K. Nair.
Wednesday, November 19: The Films of Satyajit Ray. The works of the famous auteur, including excerpts from Panther Panchali (1955), Devi (1960) Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969) and Chess Players (1977) and a full screening of The Music Room (1958)
Wednesday, November 26: excerpts from post-independence Indian Cinema:
The Cloud-Capped Star (1960)
A River called Titas (1973)
Bhuvan Shome (1969)
Our Daily Bread (1970)
The Ritual (1977)
Rat Trap (1981)
Monday, December 1: Films by important women in Indian Cinema
excerpts from Aparna Sen's Sati (1989) and the films of Mira Nair Salaam Bombay, Kama Sutra, and Monsoon Wedding.
Wednesday, December 3: The Films of Anand Patwardhan
Ram Ke Naam (In The Name of God, 1991)
For more information on the screenings, peep the Facebook event page for this series here and stay updated. See you there!
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Aimee Murillo is calendar editor and frequently covers film and previously contributed to the OCW’s long-running fashion column, Trendzilla. Don’t ask her what her favorite movie is unless you want to hear her lengthy defense of Showgirls.