Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Buffalo International Film Festival & Hallwalls Present
Nishtha Jain (Dir), 82 minutes, India, WNY Premiere
In Hindi w/ English subtitles.
An observational essay that focuses its lens on the juke industry in India, exploring the entire production chain – from cutting and drying the reed along the river, to weaving in two of the biggest mills in the area.
In the height of the jute industry, millions of people in West Bengal made their living performing this labor, which is largely unchanged since the industrial revolution. The 100-year-old machinery has been endlessly repaired. State aid kept this sustainable alternative to plastic going, but its future looks bleak. Meanwhile, the union is fighting for a minimum wage equivalent of $250 USD a month. During their breaks, the workers speak out.
A Taskovski Films release.