Boatman (Film)

Boatman is a 1993 Italian documentary film directed by Gianfranco Rosi (director).

Synopsis[edit]

The film depicts life on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, a Sapta Puri where Hindus believe the cycle of rebirth can be broken and salvation can subsequently be attained. People are observed coming to the river to pray, meditate, and work; whilst simultaneously river burials and cremations occur alongside. Various locals and tourists discuss their relationships with the Ganges and with death, including discussions about Antyeshti and the Caste system in India.

Production[edit]

Boatman was Rosi's film debut. He first travelled to Benares when he was a student looking to make a film for his thesis. Rosi stated his interest in making the film stemmed from Benares' role as being "the only place in the world where dead people and those who are alive are constantly in the same place".^[1] Much of the film was recorded during a boat trip taken by Rosi; Gopal, the titular boatman, features heavily in the film. Prior to the boat trip, Rosi had struggled for three months to film and had considered giving up on the project.^[2] The film contains many shots offering glimpses into the various uses of the Ganges, including for meditation, tourism, funerals, washing, praying, and recreation. It took Rosi around five years to turn his footage in Boatman.^[1]

Release[edit]

Since its initial release in 1993, Boatman has featured at several film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the Vienna International Film Festival and the Hawaii International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Maile Award.^[3]

Reception[edit]

Boatman, while not widely reviewed, received positive responses from some critics. Time Out (magazine) called the film "excellent" and praised Rosi's "non-judgemental tone".^[4] Retrospectively, Mubi (streaming service)|MUBI described the film as "a profound observational tour" and "a poetic portrait of a nation and its people".^[3]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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