At the intersections of a modernity that is taking over the city of Calcutta with apparent delusions of grandeur, Ela, who is grieving for her daughter, is trying to climb the social ladder and find a better life. The capitalist smokescreen mixes with the sometimes disagreeable whiff of a past embodied by an old theatre that Ela is trying to regain possession of from her recluse brother. A seemingly tender old flame reappears but the deck is violently reshuffled. The choral form of Once Upon a Time in Calcutta allows for a collective portrait without ever betraying each character and actor’s unique presence. A broad range of visions nests in the fanciful abundance of Aditya Sengupta’s third feature film. Her exemplary art of framing and of colour supplies a vibrant representation of the city and the times. FM
French Premiere
