One of TIFF’s potential deep cuts this year is Nabin Subba’s A Road to a Village. Apologies for comparing this film to Western literature, but think of this as a mix of the Book of Job and mid career Thomas Hardy but set in the great Nepalese landscape. Here, the titular road upends the life of a family. Feeling the effects of this disruption is the family’s father Maila (Dayahang Rai), a weaver. In theory, the road may help him deliver his goods, which he does eventually. But the road brings modern materials that that villagers prefer. This makes him unable to support his wife Maili (Pashupati Rai) and child Bindrey (Prasana Rai). The local store owner suggests he dabble in bootlegging, which fails.
Unlike what that one guy in Letterboxd said, the cinematography in Road is beautiful. What also helps is that Subba and crew’s camera also looks for things that are askew to add dynamism within the frame. It shows us the road that zags onto the mountains like several scars, or Malil’s posture that bends, indicating exhaustion. My references to Job and Hardy is backhanded compliment in that this film has its tendencies to make things harder for this family than necessary. And yes, the crowd I was with adored Bindrey but it feels like the film is pushing him to be annoying. The film manages to be both a crowd pleaser and one showing the realities of capitalism. But count me out the crowd.
- Genre: Drama
- Release Date: 9/7/2023
- Directed by: Nabin Subba
- Starring: Dayahang Rai, Prasana Rai
- Written by: Mahesh Rai
