The Indian documentary ‘Writing with Fire,’ directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, has been nominated for an Academy Award. It has made it to the final five contenders for the 94th Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
‘Writing with Fire’ is maybe the first all-India indie film to reach the final round of nominations in this category. In December, it was named to the Oscars shortlist, one of 15 films chosen from a pool of 138.
The Academy Awards ceremony will return to its long-time home at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on March 27 after being relocated last year due to Covid-19.
Writing with Fire highlights the work of Khabar Lahariya, which was started by Nirantar, a Delhi-based NGO. It is a newspaper that aims to expose patriarchal tendencies in the region. As they transition from print to digital, Meera and her team are faced with various challenges, such as investigating the incompetence of the police force and reporting stories about gender violence.
The other four finalists in the category are Chinese-American Jessica Kingdon’s film ‘Ascension,’ about the Chinese Dream; Traci A Curry and Stanley Nelson’s ‘Attica,’ about the 1971 uprising at Attica prison in New York State; Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Danish Animated Afghan refugee story ‘Flee,’ about the 1969 Harlem cultural festival; and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s ‘Summer
Writing with Fire made its global premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021 when it received two awards: the Audience Award and the Special Jury Award. Since then, it has won over 20 international honors.
Two documentaries set in India have previously won Oscars for Best Documentary Short – Smile Pinki and Period.
The announcement of the nominations had Indian Twitter buzzing all day Tuesday. Suriya’s Jai Bheem and Mohanlal’s Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham were both named to the Oscars’ long list of nominated films. Neither film made the cut; the official Indian entry for Best International Feature Film, Koozhangal, failed to make the shortlist in December of last year.
The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion, leads this year’s Oscar nominations with 12 nominations. There are four acting nominations, including Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch, Best Supporting Actress for Kirsten Dunst, and Best Supporting Actor for Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jesse Plemons. Dune comes in second with ten nominations, followed by Belfast and West Side Story with seven each, and King Richard with six, including one for Will Smith, who is nominated for Best Actor.
In an online interaction with the creators, feminist icon Gloria Steinem praised the film for its depiction of “actual life, not made-up life.” “India is my second home,” she added. After college, I lived there for two years. We (the United States and India) are the world’s two largest and most diversified democracies. We rely on one another and must learn from one another.” She described the picture as “a revelation in so many ways.” It seems apparent that literacy has been a barrier to journalism for as long as I can remember.”
The film was described as a “rousing, uplifting ode to the pride of grassroots Indian journalism” by Variety. The Hollywood Reporter wrote in its review, “The film’s sense of intimacy and immediacy makes the viewer feel like they’re on a ride-along with the journalists, who are practically always bathed in flattering, natural light.”
According to the Washington Post, it is “the most inspiring journalism film – possibly ever.”
Edited By- Kritika Kashyap
Published By- Bharat Anand
