“The Indian festival of fire, Holi, undergoes a reversal when the flames of student rebellion are fanned. In lieu of the traditional holiday celebration, disenchanted students at an over-crowded, run-down secondary school are treated to the pompous verbal meanderings of a visiting educator. Sparks of unrest, baiting and catcalling burst into full-scale bedlam and violence. The second film of young director Ketan Mehta (Bhavni Bhavai/A Folk Tale, PFA 3/82), Holi examines the mechanisms of mass hysteria, questions the societal machinery that sacrifices youth and hope to obsolete social and cultural environments, and probes the culture and psychology of youth itself. Economic necessity is the mother of cinematic invention and Holi, with only 40 long and fluid shots, has something of a Godardian flair. Largely ad-libbed performances by non-professional actors are given guest support from stars Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah.” Sally Syberg
Holi was selected for the Museum of Modern Art's New Directors/New Films ‘85.
Note: Holi will be repeated Monday, November 4, 7:40.