Matar um Tigre

As "To Kill A Tiger" (2022 release from India; 127 min) opens, we are introduced to Ranjit, a father living with his family in remote Jharkhand, India. We learn that his 13 yo daughter was raped by 3 young men, and at his daughter's urging, he decides to file a law suit against the 3 men. This leads to major tensions within the village... At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: the horrible events took place in 2017, and then the film makers team up with the family and with a local women's rights nonprofit. This was filmed over a long, long time as the case worked itself through the Indian legal system. More importantly, we get great insight as to how the remote village where this happened reacts. Let's just say that this does not go well, and I'm being mild. I found myself astonished, if not infuriated, how the villagers act in all this, literally as if it is the 13 yo's fault for being raped. There are no words. Aside from the moral outrage, we get a true picture of what life in rural India is really like on a day-to-day basis. People living on scraps of food, and not knowing how they'll get by a week or a month from now. The MAGA extremists who can't stop whining and complaining on a daily basis how terrible life has become in the US should take a look at this movie, and then drop to their knees and thank their lucky stars they live here and how privileged they are to live here. All that aside, kudos to the 13 yo girl for her (and her parents') bravery to stand up, despite all of the pressures and barriers.

"To Kill A Tiger" premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival but it didn't get shown in the US until the summer of 2023, reason why it wasn't eligible for Best Documentary Oscar consideration until this most recently cycle. Indeed it was nominated. It's currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. "To Kill A Tiger" is now streaming on Netflix, where I caught it last night. If you have any interest what life in rural India is like, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

We've seen people lose their minds over the term 'rape culture'. Most question how there could ever be a culture where rape isn't frowned upon. 'Does anyone really think rape is okay? People just exaggerate' they say. Well, Nisha Pahuja's "To Kill a Tiger" single-handedly shuts that question down with a thoroughly documented case of an entire culture's willful obliviousness to rape.

Powerful and unrelenting in its messaging, the movie follows the case of a father seeking justice for the gang rape of his 13-year old daughter - a rather unique situation where a father in rural India is willing to stand by his daughter's search for justice, instead of marrying her off to one of her three rapists (as we're told, is custom in the village). Not only does it lay bare the mental and societal toll on the family having to fight against their own townsfolk, but it also highlights the dire need for education and societal change.

It is a movie that tackles that which we know to be obvious and drills it further into our heads as to why it needs to be obvious in contrast to the many who don't think it so. Intense, resolute and most importantly educational, "To Kill a Tiger" is a documentary that needs to be seen by as many people as possible.

Shocking statistics reveal that globally, 35% of women have faced sexual abuse, but only 40% seek help, and a mere 10% report to law enforcement. Moreover, 33% of women who are raped contemplate suicide. In the US, a rape occurs every 1-2 minutes, while in India, it happens every 18-20 minutes (Ref: worldpopulationreview) The alarming reality is that most cases in India go unreported, masking the country's true magnitude of sexual crimes, including acid attacks, gang rapes, and rapes of minors. Recent heinous incidents, such as the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl by 7 men, including a priest and police officers, and the gang rape and murder of a young woman from a lower caste, leave me wondering... How did I muster the courage to watch this film and review it? The stark truth is that India faces an epidemic of unspeakable crimes! And it is about time we confront this dark reality head-on.

This film explores the issue of sexual violence in India, specifically the gang rape of a 13-year old young woman in the state of Jharkhand. The film follows the survivor's journey as she alongside her father navigates the legal system and seeks justice.

The film also delves into the societal and cultural factors that contribute to sexual violence in India. Instead of recognizing that rape is always a fault of the perpetrator, and never the result of the victim's actions or characteristics, it is appalling that how victim-blaming mentality still serves to perpetuate rape culture and further traumatizes and silences the survivors.

Simple yet powerful storytelling and poignant narrative! Tackling a delicate topic with compassion and care, the film sheds light on the heart-wrenching realities of sexual violence and its devastating impact on especially minor victims. It demands attention and action.

Watch heart-wrenching, powerful Oscar-nominated documentary from India.

It's a documentary on the pursuit of justice for the gang rape of a 13-year-girl in rural Jharkhand, India in 2017. It follows the efforts of Kiran's (a pseudonym) father, Ranjit, to pursue a criminal conviction of the three local teenagers who raped her, including her first cousin. The family receives considerable support from the Srijan Foundation, a non-profit NGO established in 2001 to work directly with local communities on poverty and gender justice. The Foundation appeared to facilitate the remarkable filming by Nisha Pajuja.

What is most remarkable in the film is the scenes in which village members, both male and female, try to blame the victim and the victim's family and insist that Kiran should marry one of the rapists and that the village conflict should be settled within the village. The society's honor culture insists this is the only way to remove the "stain" on Kiran's family. Ranjit appears to waver under pressure from time to time. Still, Kiran's persistence and Srijan Foundation's encouragement allow what seems to be an apparent victory, though appeals of the verdict were still outstanding in 2022.

"To Kill a Tiger" presents an important issue. I do wonder about some documentary ethics. Did the villagers give informed consent to the filming of their sometimes inflammatory statements? What was the impact of the camera's presence on what people said? The village leader's comments after the conviction seemed made-for-camera. And we don't really know the long-term impact of Kiran's family after the cameras have left. These questions nag at me despite a powerful presentation.

The movie is set in a small sleepy village in Jharkhand near Ranchi. One morning the villagers wake up to the shocking news that a 13 year old girl of the village has been brutally raped by three boys of the village. The father who is a poor farmer decides to pursue the case legally to get justice for his daughter. Most of the villagers specially women folk want to hush up the case and get the girl married to one of the boys. This is however not acceptable to the girl, the mother and the father. A local NGO and the state agencies turn counselors and advisors.

Director Nisha Pahuja has certainly made an outstanding documentary feature which missed getting an Oscar. The entire legal process of getting justice has many obstacles and the movie shows this with great detail and sensitivity. Through the many artistically framed close ups we get to see and feel the helplessness, anger and agony of the girl and her parents. There are many moving sequences particularly how she is made to memorise her statement by the father and the coolness with which she gets ready for the D day. Really some good story telling which keeps you riveted. The movie throws up some uncomfortable questions and tends to shake up the viewer.

It is heartening to see that 26 producers ( including some well known celebrities) have chipped in to support this timely ,topical and Oscar worthy project which has a universal appeal. It needs to be seen by all.