WFA 2021 Home Schedule Explore the Film Guide Education Parties News+Reviews GET TICKETS
Follow Rohini Chandra as she explores the homeland of her parents through a travelers perspective, inviting us on an adventure to explore both the rustic and new India through fresh eyes.
By Marissa Perez
See the documentary film This Beautiful Journey on Documentary Day – September 25 @ 2:25PM at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) as part of New York City’s 10th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival. Tickets now on sale!
This Beautiful Journey follows actor, singer, and filmmaker Rohini Chandra and her family as they spend 45 days exploring the beautiful landscape of India. A country rich in customs and tradition, Chandra describes India as an “escape from the fast-paced America”. Inspired to objectively showcase the homeland of her parents, she edited over 10 hours of DSLR footage from late 2019 before the global pandemic ravaged through India’s rural countryside, creating an immersive travel-doc that allows us to explore without ever leaving our couch.
As a self-described “wandering soul”, Chandra takes the viewers on a rollercoaster ride that transports the viewer right into the streets of India – with a range of diverse locations, captivating sounds, beautiful architecture, and a sight to see around every corner.
The richness of India’s cuisine, people, and traditions take center stage, leading us to encounter various characters that our travel guide came across organically while filming; from the young journalist leading social and political change among India’s youth, to a hospitable working family in the countryside that welcome our travel guide into their home to offer fresh roti and buffalo milk. The warmth of the people invites you to take a moment of respite by experiencing a different and sometimes simpler way of life.
Through impromptu interviews, the filmmaker makes a point to touch on the currently changing landscape unfolding in India. As expanding industrialization leads to more global power, we get a glimpse of the subtle ways Western influence has already entered India’s mainstream. While many social issues are still prevalent, we also hear about the optimistic future that many Indians are excited for.
Some filmmakers would shy away from showing the flaws of their subject; Chandra instead chooses to give us a holistic and authentic view of India. As she puts it, “I wanted to bring out hope and need to embrace the imperfections”. At one point in the film, we are strolling down an alley with Chandra’s parents as her father recalls the memory of having a gun pointed towards him and his mother during the Bangladeshi Civil War. While the street in present time appears lively and communal, the moment serves as a reminder of how times have drastically changed.
When asked about the biggest challenge in making this film, Chandra responds by saying “overcoming the fear of carrying and spontaneously shooting in some of the most remote areas. A camera can attract journalistic or even political attention at times. However, my intention was to create a more artistically driven travel film… Some stereotypes and prejudices still exist unfortunately, but I found that people were more positively intrigued by my purpose, excitement, and joy in bringing people together through storytelling”.
Looking into the future Rohini sees more travelogues on the horizon, either to the remaining regions of India that have yet to be explored, or alongside another wandering soul visiting their motherland. This Beautiful Journey serves as a collective reminder that our human essence is rooted in curiosity and connection with others, and that experience is always worth exploring.
Marissa Perez
Writer and film enthusiast Marissa Perez resides in Sacramento, California. A graduate student on her way to becoming a licensed psychotherapist, she is passionate about supporting others on their path towards greater consciousness, and self-acceptance. A lifelong fan of visual storytelling, she enjoys spotlighting creative works that deepen our understanding of the human experience.
About Winter Film Awards
New York City’s 10th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival runs September 23-October 2 2021. Check out a jam-packed lineup of 91 fantastic films in all genres from 28 countries, including shorts, features, Animation, Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Horror, Documentary and Music Video. Hollywood might ignore women and people of color, but Winter Film Awards celebrates everyone!
Winter Film Awards is an all volunteer, minority- and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2011 in New York City by a group of filmmakers and enthusiasts. The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the NY State Council on the Arts.
