After winning hearts with the internationally acclaimed films, Village Rockstars and Bulbul Can Sing, the filmmaker, Rima Das returns to the prestigious, Toronto International Film Festival with her third film, Tora’s Husband.
Tora’s Husband is Das’ third independent feature in a row in the Assamese language to make its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and is the first Indian film to premiere in the Platform section.
The 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will be held from 8-18 September 2022.
Named after Jia Zhang-ke’s film ‘Platform’, this director-driven section pushes the boundaries of narrative filmmaking in surprising and rigorous ways, using documentary or experimental techniques in their approaches. They tackle some of the most urgent concerns of our day using original, exciting cinematic language.
Tora’s Husband featuring Abhijit Das and Tarali Kalita Das in the lead roles, is a story of a loving father and a kind neighbour, who struggles to keep his small-town business afloat while his relationships deteriorate, amidst loss and lockdowns. Shot during the lockdown, the film depicts life in a small town during the pandemic.
The writer-director-producer made the film independently, with a small crew. Sharing her journey, Rima says, “The story of my protagonist reflects my personal journey living and working amidst the pandemic. In the midst of loss, lockdowns and life, we shot the film for over 2 years in real locations and natural conditions. Shooting this film was more challenging than shooting my previous films because the pandemic restricts you in many ways. There was this constant feeling of fear and restlessness, which my characters also depict. But I knew I just had to shoot this film, as this time will become history one day.”
Rima paid tribute to her father, Bharat Chandra Das in the film whom she lost during the pandemic. “I lost my father during the early days of shooting the film. I dedicate this film to my father and all those who have lost their loved ones during the pandemic.”
