Writing with Fire explained

Writing With Fire
Production Companies:Black Ticket Films
Distributor:Music Box Films (United States)
Runtime:94 minutes
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Gross:₹ 16.58 lakh ($29,731)[1] [2]

Writing with Fire is a 2021 Indian documentary film directed by filmmakers Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas about the journalists running the Dalit women led newspaper Khabar Lahariya, as they shift from 14-years of print to digital journalism using smartphones. It is the first Indian feature documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[3]

Produced under Ghosh and Thomas' Black Ticket Films banner, the film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won two awards, the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award in the World Cinema Documentary category.[4] It received unanimous acclaim from film festivals and critics, winning several international awards and critical acclaim from the press. It was named a "Critics Pick" by The New York Times,[5] and Jason Rezaian at The Washington Post called it "the most inspiring journalism movie — maybe ever".[6] In 2023, Writing With Fire won a Peabody Award for Best Documentary Film,[7] [8] making Rintu and Sushmit the first Indian filmmakers in the award's 83-year history to win this recognition.

Synopsis

Writing with Fire tells the story of Khabar Lahariya, the only news agency in India run by Dalit (oppressed-caste) women. Armed with smartphones, these women journalists report from some of the most difficult regions of the country, risking everything to speak truth to power. Led by Chief Reporter Meera and her feisty understudy, crime reporter Suneeta, the film bears witness to the wit, intelligence and compassion of these journalists in confronting the most urgent stories of our times.

Set in the backdrop of an increasingly polarized world, Writing with Fire journeys with Meera and her band of sisters for five years - as they break traditions on the frontlines of India's biggest issues and within the confines of their homes, redefining what it truly means to be powerful.

Release

Writing With Fire had its theatrical opening in November 2021 in New York (Film Forum), Los Angeles (Laemmle Royal), Chicago (Gene Siskel Film Center) and Austin (Austin Film Society)- making it the first Indian documentary film to have a US theatrical release. With the overwhelmingly positive critics reviews and audience response to the film’s opening week, screenings expanded to more cities across the US.[9] [10]

Reception

Critical reception

The film has garnered a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics based on 51 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Writing with Fire pays stirring tribute to the power of journalism -- and presents a chilling glimpse of the forces aligned against it."[11] [12] [13]

Jessica Kiang from Variety reviewed the film as a "rousing, inspirational tribute to the pride of grassroots Indian journalism".[14] Inkoo Kang at The Hollywood Reporter called the film "insightful and inspirational".[15] while Kate Erbland at IndieWire reviewed it "profound".[16] The Los Angeles Times called the film "a vital, stimulating dispatch from the frontlines of consequential citizen journalism"[17] while the San Francisco Chronicle, giving the film a 5-star review, said "even Woodward and Bernstein would be inspired by the women reporters of India's Writing with Fire".[18]

Reception by Khabar Lahariya journalists

The film and its impact was received positively by Kavita Devi, the co-founder of Khabar Lahariya, and various team members who appeared with the film at film festivals and conferences with the filmmakers over 14 months since its world premiere at Sundance.[19] Meera Devi, the main protagonist of Writing With Fire and Managing Editor of the news outlet, described the impact of the film as "From a global perspective, we have become a lot more popular since the film came out [in Sundance]. Both personally and professionally, it has really amplified the newspaper and its work. We have witnessed a completely different kind of popularity – and that is really good."[20] Describing the unique relevance of the film, filmmaker Shabani Hassanwalia, a board member of Khabar Lahariya wrote, "May this documentary, which follows three KL journalists through a critical phase of Khabar Lahariya’s evolution, be watched far and wide, and may it continue to do what great documentaries are made to do: bear witness to truths that help us see, for the first time."[21] Over a year later, once the film was nominated for an Academy Award, the organisation issued a statement criticising the film for presenting a simplified, incomplete profile of their work and "consuming focus of reporting on one party", which NPR identified as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India's national ruling party. Srishti Mehra, outreach manager at Chambal Media, claimed that this "misrepresentation" could negatively affect the security and reputation of Khabar Lahariya and its journalists.[22]

Accolades

Following its release, Writing with Fire was showcased at numerous film festivals and won several awards, including the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change and the World Cinema Documentary Competition Audience Award at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. In December 2021, it was announced that the film had entered the shortlist of candidates for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in the 94th Academy Awards in 2022,[23] [24] and the next February it was announced that it had been nominated in this category.

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Academy Awards27 March 2022Best Documentary FeatureRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[25]
Asia Pacific Screen Awards11 November 2021Best Documentary Feature FilmRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[26]
Belfast Film Festival13 November 2021Maysles Brothers Award for Feature DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
Bergen International Film Festival28 October 2021Checkpoints Award for Best Human Rights DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[27]
BlackStar Film Festival9 August 2021Best Documentary FeatureWriting with Fire[28]
Audience Award – Best Documentary FeatureWriting with Fire
Cinema Eye Honors1 March 2022Audience Choice PrizeRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[29]
The UnforgettablesMeera Devi
Cinema for Peace AwardsWomen's EmpowermentWriting with Fire[30]
Dokufest14 August 2021Truth DoxRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[31] [32]
Films from the South Festival18 November 2021Doc:South AwardRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[33]
IDA Documentary Awards4 March 2022Best FeatureRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[34] [35]
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam26 November 2021NPO IDFA Audience AwardRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[36]
Kraków Film Festival5 June 2021Silver Horn for Best Film on Social IssuesRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[37]
Kyiv International Film Festival "Molodist"5 June 2021Best DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[38]
Mountainfilm31 May 2021Special Jury Prize – Best Documentary FeatureRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
Peabody Awards11 June 2023DocumentaryWriting with Fire[39]
Producers Guild of America Awards19 March 2022Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion PicturesRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[40]
San Francisco International Film Festival17 April 2021McBaine Documentary Feature AwardRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh[41]
Seattle International Film Festival18 April 2021Special Jury Prize – Documentary CompetitionWriting with Fire[42]
Social Impact Media Awards10 February 2022Best DocumentaryWriting with Fire[43] [44] [45]
Best DirectorRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
Best CinematographySushmit Ghosh and Karan Thapliyal
Sundance Film Festival2 February 2021Audience Award: World Cinema DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for ChangeRintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
Valladolid International Film Festival30 October 2021Time of History AwardWriting with Fire[46]
Fundos AwardWriting with Fire
Wisconsin Film Festival20 May 2021Audience Favorite Documentary FeatureWriting with Fire[47] [48]
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival14 October 2021Citizens' PrizeWriting with Fire[49]

Notes and References

  1. 13630174 . Writing with Fire (2021) . 15 April 2022.
  2. Writing-With-Fire-(2021-India). Writing with Fire (2021). 15 April 2022.
  3. Web site: Ghosh. Tanushree. 8 February 2022 . Oscar nominations 2022: Indian documentary Writing with Fire nominated in Best Documentary Feature category . The Indian Express. 8 February 2022.
  4. Web site: 2021 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced . . 16 February 2022 . 2 February 2021.
  5. Web site: Girish . Devika . Writing With Fire Review: Speaking Truth to Power . The New York Times. 25 November 2021. February 16, 2022.
  6. Web site: Rezaian. Jason. Jason Rezaian. Opinion: The most inspiring journalism movie — maybe ever . The Washington Post . 1 February 2021. 9 February 2022.
  7. Web site: Independent Lens: Writing with Fire . 2023-06-14 . The Peabody Awards . en-US.
  8. Web site: ITVS Brings Home Two Peabody Awards For Documentaries “Writing With Fire” And “Missing In Brooks County” ITVS . 2023-06-14 . itvs.org . en.
  9. Web site: Saito . Stephen . 2021-11-26 . Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh on Fierce Reportage in "Writing with Fire" . 2023-06-14 . The Moveable Fest . en-US.
  10. Web site: Writing With Fire . 2023-06-14 . International Films - Independent Films Music Box Films . en-US.
  11. writing_with_fire . movie . Writing with Fire . 11 January 2022.
  12. Web site: Naman . Ramachandran . Sundance Winner Writing With Fire Scores Raft of Global Sales, Reveals Trailer (Exclusive) . Variety. 28 July 2021. 16 February 2022.
  13. writing-with-fire . movie . Writing with Fire . 11 January 2022.
  14. Web site: Kiang . Jessica . Writing With Fire Review: Rousing, Inspirational Tribute to the Pride of Grassroots Indian Journalism . Variety. 5 February 2021. 16 February 2022.
  15. News: Kang . Inkoo . Writing With Fire: Film Review Sundance 2021 . The Hollywood Reporter . 31 January 2021. 16 February 2022.
  16. Web site: Erbland . Kate . Writing with Fire Review: Sundance World Cinema Doc Winner Is a Fearless Fight for Real News . IndieWire. 3 February 2021. 16 February 2022.
  17. News: Abele . Robert . Resourceful and unafraid, these women journalists in India are Writing With Fire. Los Angeles Times . 26 November 2021. 16 February 2022.
  18. News: Johnson . G. Allen . Even Woodward and Bernstein would be inspired by the women reporters of India's Writing With Fire . San Francisco Chronicle. 1 December 2021. 16 February 2022.
  19. Web site: 2022-01-24 . Courage Under Fire Award: 'Writing With Fire' Team on Finding Hope in the Unlikeliest Place . 2022-04-16 . International Documentary Association . en.
  20. Web site: Macnab . Geoffrey . 2021-11-23 . IDFA Best of Fests interview: Meera Devi, main protagonist of Writing With Fire . 2022-05-07 . Business Doc Europe . en-US.
  21. Web site: AC . Annie . 2022-02-15 . The origin story of Khabar Lahariya and with it the Oscar nominated ‘Writing with Fire’ . 2023-05-01 . NWM India . en-US.
  22. News: Sushmita. Pathak. 2022-03-26. 'Writing With Fire' is up for an Oscar. But its subjects say they're misrepresented. NPR. 26 March 2022. NPR.
  23. Web site: Ghosh. Tanushree. 26 December 2021 . Indian documentary Writing with Fire enters Oscars 2022 shortlist . The Indian Express. 23 December 2021.
  24. News: 26 December 2021 . Pebbles out of Oscars 2022 race, Writing With Fire advances to next level . The Hindu . 22 December 2021 . 0971-751X .
  25. News: Nordyke . Kimberly . Strause . Jackie . Lewis . Hilary . Oscars: Full List of Nominations . 16 February 2022 . . 8 February 2022 . 8 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208153404/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-nominations-2022-nominees-list-1235088770/ . live .
  26. Web site: Complex . Valerie . Asia Pacific Screen Academy Announces Nominees For 14th Annual Awards Ceremony . Deadline . 16 February 2022 . 12 October 2021.
  27. Web site: Årets prisvinnere! . . 16 February 2022 . Norwegian.
  28. Web site: Jeffrey . Andrew . Writing With Fire leads non-fiction winners at BlackStar Film Festival . Realscreen . 16 February 2022 . 11 August 2021.
  29. Web site: Flee & Summer Of Soul Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations. Deadline. Matt. Grobar. 10 November 2021. 16 February 2022.
  30. Web site: Cinema for Peace Awards 2022 . . January 2, 2023.
  31. Web site: Petković . Vladan . We and Reconciliation triumph at DokuFest in Prizren . Cineuropa . 16 February 2022 . 17 August 2021.
  32. Web site: Winners of Dokufest XX . Dokufest. 16 February 2022 . 15 August 2021.
  33. Web site: And the Winners are... . . 16 February 2022 . 18 November 2021.
  34. Web site: Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards . International Documentary Association . 29 January 2022 . 15 November 2021.
  35. Web site: Hipes . Patrick . IDA Awards Shifts 2022 Ceremony To March As Virtual-Only Event . Deadline . 29 January 2022 . 6 January 2022.
  36. Web site: Writing with Fire wins the NPO IDFA Audience Award . . 16 February 2022 . 26 November 2021.
  37. Web site: 61st Krakow Film Festival Winners Announced . . 16 February 2022 . 5 June 2021.
  38. Web site: The Awards Ceremony . KIFF Molodist . 16 February 2022 . 5 June 2021.
  39. News: Coates . Tyler . Peabody Awards: Abbott Elementary, Andor, Severance and We're Here Among Winners . 4 June 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . 9 May 2023.
  40. Web site: Pedersen . Erik . PGA Awards Nominations: Licorice Pizza, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard & CODA Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize . Deadline . 16 February 2022 . 27 January 2022.
  41. Web site: SFFILM Announces Golden Gate Awards and Audience Awards Winner at 2021 San Francisco International Film Festival. . 16 February 2022 . 17 April 2021.
  42. Web site: SIFF 2021 Award Winners . . 16 February 2022 . 18 April 2021.
  43. Web site: #SIMA2022 Winners Announced . . 16 February 2022 . 10 February 2022.
  44. Web site: 2022 Winners . . 16 February 2022.
  45. Web site: 2022 Finalists . . 16 February 2022.
  46. News: Foreman . Liza . Pan Nalin's Last Film Show Tops Valladolid . 16 February 2022 . Variety . 1 November 2021.
  47. Web site: Wisconsin Film Festival Awards . Wisconsin Film Festival. 16 February 2022.
  48. Web site: 2021 Wisconsin Film Festival Film Guide . . 16 February 2022.
  49. Web site: Cho . Suzie . Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2021 Announces Award Winners . Asian Movie Pulse . 16 February 2022 . 15 October 2021.

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