World Cinema
(Canada, 2007, 101 mins)
In English, Hindi with English subtitles
35mm
2008 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival Audience Narrative Feature Winner
DIR: Richie Mehta
SCR: Richie Mehta, Shaun Mehta
FEAT: Rupinder Nagra, Koel Purie, Naseeruddin Shah, Seema Biswas
PROD: David Miller, Steven Bray
CIN: Mitch Ness
EDITOR: Stuart McIntyre
MUS: Dr. Shiva
In chaotic New Delhi, an aged and irascible man, seemingly homeless, cheats everyone he meets. When Amal, an auto-rickshaw wallah, generously allows him to dodge his fare, both are affected in a way that has far-reaching consequences.
This vividly textured portrait of contemporary India is an extraordinarily ambitious and heartfelt debut from first-time director Richie Mehta. Showing us an unvarnished India rich in flavor, Amal is a powerful and touching story of one man's decency.
Mehta - who also co-wrote the film - viscerally conveys the feel of working-class Delhi. Nuanced performances from some of India's most revered and beloved performers enhance the film's authenticity and immediacy. Rupinder Nagra brings a serene wisdom to Amal that captivates and transports us.
Biography
Richie Mehta was born in Toronto and has studied painting, sculpting and directing. He has directed several short films that have screened internationally, including System of Units and Amal, which he adapted into his first feature film of the same name.
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