Directed by Deepa Dhanraj • 1986 • India

This pioneering work takes communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in 1984 as its starting point, gaining immense political force through its complexity. The film’s historical perspective is provided by a thorough commentary, illuminating the ways in which political power dynamics, economic relations, and urban poverty intersect with violence. The immediacy achieved by filming unfolding conflict is juxtaposed with calm observations of the devastating consequences of living one’s life during a state of emergency, creating a lyricism that makes the film much more than just worthy reportage.