*SUNDANCE 2011 #1: BENGALI DETECTIVE

This day-in-the-life documentary follows Rajesh in his personal life, as well as his pursuits as a private detective in Kolkata (Calcutta). Director Phillip Cox displays an unexpected humorous side throughout this film, in addition to a wealth of poignant emotions brought on by Rajesh's cases and personal life. Though not the focus of the film, Bengali Detective provides a decent fly-on-the-wall look into a small (poor and crowded) sector of Indian life. There are discussions within the film of maintaining Indian culture and warding off western influence, but because of the brevity, these segments warrant no real attention. The film struggles to find it's real purpose, going back and forth from subject to subject and place to place with little connection besides Rajesh's presence. Cox leaves us with little conclusion to the cases strung through the film and overall relays only a basic understanding of these people and the ties they have to each other. The cinematography was surprisingly impressive - especially the night photography - coming from a digital two camera system (the director running one, the cinematographer the other). An interesting and decent way to start the festival.

In attendance: O
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1/18/2011