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AT THE MOVIES
Two Oscar Contenders: An Inspiring Document of New Journalism and an Historic Look Back at an American Prison Tragedy
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very year during Oscar season, Academy voters come up with a winning list of five films for the Best Feature Documentary category. Here are two of the five nominees.
by Mike Canning
regions of their increasingly polarized country. They do this serious work partly on the fly but with a wondrous spirit of collaboration and good humor, with giggles spicing their private moments. Meera is the veteran, touchstone, and mentor for her team, and in the film she is Writing with Fire ably seconded by two younger colleagues, Bravery comes in the form of gently smiling women Shyamkali Devi and crime reporter Suneeta brandishing smartphones in the new documentary Prajapati. After intensive training with “Writing with Fire.” The film shows a fight against Meera, they and other young women, great odds: a determined group of female journalists Grim aftermath of the assault in the prison yard of the Attica already more attuned to new technology, maintain India’s only women-led news outlet, workCorrectional Facility on September 13, 1971, in “Attica.” Photo are now more imbued with journalistic ing in a social environment built to marginalize them courtesy of Showtime Pictures principles and techniques. based on caste and gender. The women of the outlet Indian co-directors Sushmit Ghosh Khabar Lahariya (‘Waves of News’), all from the Dalit country’s most infamous and deadly prison uprising, and Rintu Thomas worked on the film over five caste (“untouchables”), are shown preparing the tranan anniversary recognized by the release of a major years and pulled off a casting coup in finding its trio sition of their newspaper from print to digital even documentary of that name. “Attica” was recently of unassuming stars. The filmmakers also prove that though many of their reporters don’t even have acchosen as one of the Best Documentary films of 2021 they have a great camera’s eye, introducing us to lively cess to electricity at home (this film is unrated and by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and colorful sketches of Indian sites and landscapes. runs 93 minutes). an amazing re-telling of a landmark event. The film’s The picture is the first feature-length film by the coArmed with their smartphones, Chief Reporter setting is grim, yes, but the historical recounting of directors who also produced and shot it, while Ghosh Meera Devi (an imposing presence) and her team this searing event merits discovery by new generations also edited it. of dogged investigative journalists take on some (The film is rated “TVMA” and runs one hour and Though released late last year, “Writing with of India’s biggest issues–exposing the relentless 56 minutes, it is now available on Showtime and Fire” was seen in only a few US markets, but its discrimination against women in their country and streaming on YouTube). Oscar nomination last month has brought it new magnifying the voices of those who suffer from the Attica had seen unrest for some time before the critical raves and renewed attention, enough for it oppressive caste system. They also directly confront uprising with inmates protesting horrendous condito be re-released in some parts of the country. It will stodgy government officials and party mouthpieces in tions at the facility and systemic racist attitudes omnibe on digital platforms (Vudu) at the beginning of their aim to get truthful news stories out in dangerous present (the prison population was about two-thirds March and later be available on DVD. black and brown.) As one surviving inmate sardoniIts initial discovery came early last cally says in the film: “We had 70 percent brown and year when it won two major awards— black prisoners and all the guards were white; what the Audience Award and Special Jury could go wrong.” As one oldster from the time reAward at the 2021 Sundance Film counted: “Inmates were considered like animals.” Festival. It has also won awards at more A morning incident on September 9, 1971, trigthan 20 international film festivals and gered a sudden lockdown in one section of the Attica competitions. with inmates breaking barriers and taking 42 hostagIf I wanted to characterize this es. In an overcrowded prison of over 2,000 prisonpicture with one word (one heard ers, more than half took part in the protest, taking over too little these days) I would say one whole wing of the facility. “heartening.” A winner. Asked about how the directors, Stanley Nelson and Traci Curry, came up with the film’s footage, (From Left) Intrepid Dalit journalists Shyamkali Devi, Meera Devi, Attica Nelson said they had plenty of material, principally and Suneeta Prajapati attending an event in Kashmir in new film “Writing with Fire.” Photo courtesy of Black Ticket Films Last year marked 50 years since the because the inmates invited the media in to see their
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