Gamak Ghar marks the debut of a self assured filmmaker in Achal Mishra, a young Indian filmmaker who is making his presence felt with two sensitive films back to back (Gamak Ghar and Dhuin — both rooted in a clear sense of place, in Darbhanga Bihar.) Beautifully shot by Anand Bansal, almost every frame is poetic and painstakingly put together. In this episode, I offer a feminist reading of this film that goes beyond mere nostalgia, to excavate how an Indian family changes, meeting and leaving the Village Home, or the Gamak Ghar, that has held generations of family members, traditions, and unspoken bonds together. What happens to the family home as the decades roll on from the late 90s to now, in 2019? And what does its erosion and decay say about our own changing notions of family and connection, ravaged by urbanisation, migration, and a newfound sense of materialism? Gamak Ghar invites us to explore poetic questions such as these in a gentle manner, never forcing its hand or its point. It does invoke the beauty of a bygone era but is change such a bad thing when seen from a woman's perspective? Tune into this spoiler-free episode that analyses the poetry and work that went behind Gamak Ghar, and check out theculturejasoos on Instagram for a visual essay that looks at Achal Mishra's influences, from Amit Chauduri the novelist, to Ozu and Taiwanese Filmmakers. Please consider rating the podcast so more people can find theculturejasoos.com thanks for listening! peace - Preeti