In Market Place, Shyam Benegal chronicles the life of a city-centre brothel. On the outside, hypocrites from morality organisations are trying to banish the establishment from sight; inside, some of the sex workers dream of claiming their independence. The brothel keeper, interpreted with poise and a fitting touch of ambivalence by Shabana Azmi, reigns over this little world with authority and cunning, able to protect her interests and keep the shameful secrets of the local nabobs. Without shying away from the cruelty and violence of the place, Shyam Benegal also uses vaudeville to ridicule the pettiness and naivety of men, while the overall tone of the film conveys a tender realism. AR
SCREENINGS
KATORZA
SAT 16 > 8 pm
WED 20 > 3:15 pm, in the presence of Shabana Azmi
