The final part of Mrinal Sen’s “Calcutta Trilogy” sees the metropole through the lens of a revolutionary activist in turmoil over his political path. Infused with documentary footage, The Guerilla Fighter lucidly comments on the rift between ideology and politics in a city on the brink of change.
Ingeniously scripted and visually inventive, Mrinal Sen’s powerful drama offers a touching look at the inmost dynamics of a family microcosm. As the daughter of the missing patriarch, Shabana Azmi is sublime, melancholically finding her way through emotional torrents of the past and the present.
For arguably one of his best films, Mrinal Sen masterfully turns the film-within-a-film trope on its head to comment on the film industry’s apathy and blind privilege. Featuring an outstanding performance by Smita Patil, this nuanced critique of exploitative art practices remains extremely relevant.
Following a detached loner’s journey of self-discovery, Mrinal Sen’s landmark film is one of the key works of India’s Parallel cinema movement. The minimalistic storytelling style and outstanding camerawork sublimely juxtapose the barren landscapes with the central character’s personality traits.
