Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.
BELA
Synopsis
In the East Indian village of Bela, men and women go about their daily life while preparing for and enacting their local traditional rites. At dusk, the women draw ornaments on the ground in the village. In the evening, the men practice Chhau, a traditional masked dance, beneath the stormy sky.
Synopsis
In the East Indian village of Bela, men and women go about their daily life while preparing for and enacting their local traditional rites. At dusk, the women draw ornaments on the ground in the village. In the evening, the men practice Chhau, a traditional masked dance, beneath the stormy sky.
Our take
Prantik Narayan Basu’s meditative documentary paints a fascinating portrait of the traditional folk dance of Chhau and the community keeping it alive. Set in the titular village, this spectacularly shot and immersive short film transports you into the heart of tribal folklore and traditional rites.