The Backward Class

Last updated

The Backward Class
Directed byMadeleine Grant
StarringMala Muniswamy
Production
company
Affinity Films
Release date
Running time
91 minutes
CountryCanada
Languages English, Tamil (with English subtitles)

The Backward Class is a 2014 Canadian documentary film directed by Madeleine Grant. The film follows the success of a group of ethnically disadvantaged students near Bangalore, India, in taking high-school graduation exams. [1] The film, created by a group of graduates of the University of British Columbia, [2] premiered at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in May 2014 and won the Audience Favourite award. [3]

Contents

The 91-minute documentary was shot inside the Shanti Bhavan school, [4] by Affinity Films. [5] Grant lived and worked at the school while making the film. [6] The dialogue is partly in English and partly in Tamil with English subtitles. [7]

The film was later screened in Toronto, received positive reviews from Now Magazine [8] and The Globe and Mail . [9]

One of the stars of the film, Mala Muniswamy, travelled from India to attend the film's premiere. [10]

Reception

Alex Hutt of Canadian Film Review mentioned that "The Backward Class is definitely a film to put down on your Hot Docs sched." [7]

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References

  1. Eng, David. "2014 Hot Docs Audience Awards – winners" . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  2. "The Backward Class follows first ever 'untouchable' Grade 12 students in India". CBC News, Sharon Lindores, CBC News Apr 10, 2015
  3. Barnard, Linda (2014-05-05). "Canada's The Backward Class is Hot Docs audience favourite". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  4. The Backward Class | Dork Shelf
  5. "Hot Docs 2014 | The Backward Class – Schema Magazine". 2016-03-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  6. Barnard, Linda (2015-02-05). "Director lived like student to make The Backward Class". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  7. 1 2 "Hot Docs 2014: The Backward Class". 2014-05-09. Archived from the original on 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  8. "Review: The Backward Class - NOW Magazine". 2017-03-12. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  9. "School? Not for 65 million girls". The Globe and Mail. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  10. Gee, Dana (7 December 2014). "Vancouver Filmmaker Reminds Us Education is the Key to Everything". The Province.