Uttara

A group of dancers in traditional masks wends its way through the countryside. Two men – Balaram and Nimai – work at an isolated railway crossing in rural Bengal. One operates the gates, the other works the signals. To pass the time of day they wrestle together. Their sport and co-existence further strengthen their seemingly rock-solid friendship. Nearby stands a small church where a Christian priest performs his duty for the local congregation. He also looks after the orphan Matthew. Each morning a group of dwarfs appear who live in a colony on the other side of the hill. One of them is a freight train guard and both wrestlers dream of being similarly promoted. One day Balaram sets out to visit a sick relative and returns home with a young wife. From this moment their simple and serene life changes. The lovely Uttara generates tension between the two men. Moreover, three Hindu extremists arrive in the village and their brutal attack on the kindly priest leads to further tragedy. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)