A teacher travels across Japan to encourage adults to cry more. ‘Tears Teacher’ is a conventional documentary film about an unusual topic. Hidefumi Yoshida, a tears therapist, teaches adults that crying in an essential ingredient for a healthy life. There Read more
This film delves into the chaotic life of a new mother, who thought that maternity leave would become a sort of easy sabbatical. Filmmaker Henriette Rietz starts her film on a triumphant note. Just having given birth, she feels invincible, Read more
An emergency-services operator tries to help a woman and her child when a house fire threatens their lives. The film begins in a hub of activity where emergency-services operators are responding to a variety of crisis calls. We soon meet Read more
This film takes inspiration from the poetry of the 18th century Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, widely held to be the greatest Sufi poet of the Sindhi language. This week we take a break from fiction and non-fiction stories, and look Read more
In rural India, where the stigma of menstruation persists, women make low-cost sanitary pads on a new machine and stride toward financial independence. After last week’s fiction film about family and grieving, here is another film by the same team Read more
A dead car battery leaves Safa stranded alone in a strip mall parking lot. This week we return to fiction with a nifty short film. A young woman, Safa, is going about her day when suddenly she finds herself stranded Read more
The story of a rodent’s unrelenting quest for happiness and fulfillment This is a story about the capitalist way of life – a literal rat race, where ‘happiness’ is up for sale. In the film, the rats are easily distracted Read more
A young woman goes to her first audition and the director asks her to talk about what is inside her handbag Auditioning as an actor can be a strange, awkward and vulnerable experience. One is supposed to put oneself out Read more
An experimental portrayal of patriarchy in India The film depicts an eventful year in the life of Old Delhi’s Bazaar Sitaram. Neena Gupta shines in this film as a young woman exploring her culture and community, while also falling in Read more
An experimental portrayal of patriarchy in India ‘Kathputli’ is an unusual film, both in its form as well as storytelling. We see a woman in a stage play setting, with her hands tied to strings. It is clear that this Read more