To Kill a Tiger

Last updated
To Kill a Tiger
To Kill a Tiger.jpg
Directed by Nisha Pahuja
Written by Nisha Pahuja
Produced byDavid Oppenheim
Nisha Pahuja
Cornelia Principe
CinematographyMrinal Desai
Edited by Dave Kazala
Mike Munn
Music by Jonathan Goldsmith
Production
companies
Distributed by Netflix [lower-alpha 1]
Release date
  • September 10, 2022 (2022-09-10)(TIFF)
Running time
127 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageHindi

To Kill a Tiger is a 2022 Hindi-language Canadian documentary film, directed by Nisha Pahuja. [1] The film centres on a family in Jharkhand, India, who are campaigning for justice after their teenage daughter was brutally raped. [2]

Contents

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022. [3] The film had its American premiere at the Lighthouse International Film Festival in June 2023. [4] It was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 96th Academy Awards. [5]

Release

To Kill a Tiger was originally released in select theaters in the United States without a distributor on October 20, 2023, followed by a re-release on February 9, 2024. In August 2023, Creators Faire reported that Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling signed on as executive producers; other executive producers also include Deepa Mehta, Rupi Kaur and Atul Gawande. [6] In February 2024, Netflix acquired worldwide distribution rights to the documentary, planning to release the documentary on their platform as soon as possible, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas joining the film as an executive producer. [7] On March 8, 2024, Pahuja announced that the film would be made available globally on Netflix two days later, coinciding with the 96th Academy Awards. [8]

Critical response

The film was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2022. [9]

Janet Smith of Stir praised the film, writing that Pahuja "offers the viewer remarkable access to village life, not just in the modest home where Ranjit’s family make roti on an open fire, but in the fields where they herd goats and collect water from a pump. The camera finds quiet details, like Ranjit’s daughter carefully weaving ribbons into her hair. Women and men insist that the community, not the criminal court, should solve the issue with a forced marriage—to remove the “stain on her”. The men become increasingly hostile—to the family, and eventually to the film crew itself." [10]

Andrew Parker of TheGATE.ca wrote that "as a highly detailed and personal work that can point people in a direction where they could learn more about the subject and make a larger impact, To Kill a Tiger has an undeniable and unshakable power. It is one of those documentaries where anyone who watches it won’t be the same person by the end as they were when it started." [11]

James Mackin of CityNews rated the film four stars, writing that "To Kill A Tiger is about accomplishing an insurmountable problem. The odds are stacked against them, the nation’s culture opposes their desire for justice. But Ranjit and his family persevere, and are able to remain in the village. This documentary is an incredibly emotional showcase that is absolutely worth a watch." [12]

Thom Ernst of Northern Stars wrote that "told with immense compassion and bravery, To Kill a Tiger is Pahuja’s best film and one of the best documentaries at this year’s festival." [13] The film has also garnered the attention of comedian and producer Mindy Kaling, who called the film a "triumph" and that "everyone should see it!" [14]

Awards

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef(s)
Toronto International Film Festival 2022 Best Canadian Film To Kill a TigerWon [15]
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival 2022 Inspiring Voices and PerspectivesWon [16]
Canadian Screen Awards 2023 Best Feature Length Documentary Won [17]
Best Editing in a Documentary Mike Munn and Dave Kazala Won
Best Original Music in a Documentary Jonathan Goldsmith Won
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2023 Best DocumentaryTo Kill a TigerWon [18]
Salem Film Fest2023Special Jury AwardWon [19]
Michael Sullivan Award for Documentary JournalismWon
Canadian Cinema Editors Awards2023Best Editing in Feature DocumentaryMike Munn and Dave KazalaWon [20]
Lighthouse International Film Festival2023Audience Award for Best DocumentaryTo Kill a TigerWon [21]
Honey Levine Audience Choice AwardWon
Doc Aviv- Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival2023Beyond the Screen AwardWon [22]
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival2023Best International Documentary FeatureWon [23]
New York Indian Film Festival2023Best DocumentaryWon [24]
Directors Guild of Canada 2023 Allan King Award for Best Documentary Won [25]
IDA Documentary Awards 2023Best Original Music Score Jonathan Goldsmith Nominated [26]
Best Writing Nisha Pahuja Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle 2024 Best Documentary Nisha PahujaWon [27]
Best Canadian Film Nominated [28]
Best Director of a Canadian Film Nominated
Best Canadian Documentary Nominated
Academy Awards March 10, 2024 Best Documentary Feature Film Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David OppenheimNominated [29]

Notes

  1. ↑ This documentary was originally given a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 20, 2023 without a distributor, followed by a re-release on February 9, 2023 following its nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. After Netflix's acquisition of distribution rights to the documentary, it was released on the platform as a Netflix Original.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Walker (director)</span> English film director

Lucy Walker is an English film director. She has directed the feature documentaries Devil's Playground (2002), Blindsight (2006), Waste Land (2010), Countdown to Zero (2010), The Crash Reel (2013), Buena Vista Social Club: Adios (2017), Bring Your Own Brigade (2021), and Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (2023). She has also directed the short films The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (2011) and The Lion's Mouth Opens (2014). Waste Land was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindy Kaling</span> American actress, writer, and comedian (born 1979)

Vera Mindy Chokalingam, known professionally as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Known for her work on television, she has received numerous accolades including two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Tony Award, and six Primetime Emmy Awards nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dev Patel</span> British actor (born 1990)

Dev Patel is a British actor and filmmaker. He has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and nominations for an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Patel was included in Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nisha Pahuja</span> Canadian independent filmmaker

Nisha Pahuja is an Indian-born Canadian filmmaker, based in Toronto, Ontario.

<i>Lion</i> (2016 film) 2016 biographical drama film by Garth Davis

Lion is a 2016 Australian biographical drama film directed by Garth Davis from a screenplay by Luke Davies based on the 2013 non-fiction book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley. The film stars Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, and Nicole Kidman, as well as Abhishek Bharate, Divian Ladwa, Priyanka Bose, Deepti Naval, Tannishtha Chatterjee, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It tells the true story of how Brierley, 25 years after being separated from his family in India, sets out to find them. It was a joint production between Australia and the United Kingdom.

<i>Hotel Mumbai</i> 2018 action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras

Hotel Mumbai is a 2018 independent action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras and co-written by Maras and John Collee. An Indian-Australian-American co-production, it is inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai about the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The film stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Nagesh Bhosle, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maitreyi Ramakrishnan</span> Canadian actress (born 2001)

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is a Canadian actress. She rose to prominence for her leading role as high school student Devi Vishwakumar in the Netflix teen comedy series Never Have I Ever (2020–2023). She appeared in voice roles in the Pixar film Turning Red (2022), and the series My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (2022–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adarsh Gourav</span> Indian film actor (born 1994)

Adarsh Gourav Bhagavatula is an Indian actor known for his works in Hindi and English-language films and television series. Gourav began acting with the drama film My Name Is Khan (2010). He became known for playing chauffeur Balram Halwai in the satirical film The White Tiger (2021), which garnered him international acclaim, and nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thyrone Tommy</span> Canadian film director

Thyrone Tommy is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. After writing and directing the short film Mariner (2016), Tommy received acclaim for his work on the feature film Learn to Swim (2021), both of which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Rideout</span> Canadian documentary filmmaker

Lisa Rideout is a Canadian filmmaker. She is best known for her work on the documentaries Sex with Sue, Take a Walk on the Wildside and One Leg In, One Leg Out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Toronto International Film Festival</span> 47th edition of the festival

The 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival was held from September 8 to 18, 2022.

<i>Black Ice</i> (2022 film) 2022 Canadian film

Black Ice is a 2022 Canadian documentary film, directed by Hubert Davis and produced by Vinay Virmani. Based in part on Darril Fosty and George Fosty's 2004 non-fiction book Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925, the film presents a history of the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes of the early 20th century, and the lingering history of anti-black racism in the sport of ice hockey.

The Colour of Ink is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Brian D. Johnson and released in 2022. The film centres on Jason S. Logan, an artist and graphic designer who travels extensively to make homemade inks with natural and wild ingredients.

<i>Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe</i> 2023 Canadian documentary film by Robert McCallum

Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Robert McCallum. The film profiles Ernie Coombs, the children's entertainer who created and starred in the long-running Canadian television series Mr. Dressup, documenting his career and its impact on Canadian culture and entertainment.

<i>Swan Song</i> (2023 film) 2023 Canadian documentary film by Chelsea McMullan

Swan Song is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Chelsea McMullan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaling International</span> American film and television production company

Kaling International, Inc. is an American film and television production company founded by Mindy Kaling. It is known for producing the television series The Mindy Project (2012–2017), Never Have I Ever (2020–2023), The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021–present), and Velma (2023–present).

References

  1. ↑ "Tanya Tagaq doc, Indigenous romance among Canadian titles added to TIFF slate". CityNews , August 10, 2022.
  2. ↑ Johanna Schneller, "Documentary details fight for justice against sexual violence in India". The Globe and Mail , February 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ Matthew Carey, "TIFF Announces Doc Lineup Highlighted By World Premiere Of Hillary And Chelsea Clinton-Executive Produced Film ‘In Her Hands’". Deadline Hollywood , August 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ "2023 Lighthouse International Film Festival: Documentaries and Narrative Features". New Jersey Stage, May 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Oscar-nominated documentary 'To Kill A Tiger' bought by Netflix". The New Indian Express. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  6. ↑ "Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling Sign on as Executive Producers of the Award-Winning Documentary TO KILL A TIGER". Creators Faire. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. ↑ Carry, Matthew (24 February 2024). "Double Dose Of Good News For 'To Kill A Tiger': Priyanka Chopra Jonas Boards Oscar-Nominated Doc As Netflix Prepares To Launch Film Globally". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Carey, Matthew (8 March 2024). "Academy Award-Nominated 'To Kill A Tiger' To Premiere On Netflix Oscar Sunday; Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling Praise Film". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Pat Mullen, "Three Feature Docs Make Canada’s Top Ten". Point of View , December 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ Janet Smith, "To Kill a Tiger takes a powerful look at one father's fight against sexual violence in India, at VIFF till February 16". Stir, February 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Andrew Parker, "To Kill a Tiger Review: Only God Forgives". TheGATE.ca , February 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ James Mackin, "REVIEW: To Kill A Tiger, a refusal to ignore justice". CityNews , February 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ Staff (2022-09-11). "TIFF 2022 – Day Four". Northernstars.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  14. ↑ "Mindy Kaling endorses Toronto filmmaker Nisha Pahuja's doc at TIFF |". Shedoesthecity. 2022-09-06. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  15. ↑ Andrew Jeffrey, "TIFF ’22: “Black Ice,” “While We Watched” among award winners". RealScreen , September 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ "ONF – Les films TO KILL A TIGER, THE FLYING SAILOR et BILL REID REMEMBERS à l’honneur au Canada’s Top Ten". CTVM, December 9, 2022.
  17. ↑ Jackson Weaver, "To Kill a Tiger, We're All Gonna Die and BLK emerge as top winners at CSAs' opening night". CBC News, April 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ William Earl, "‘Saint Omer,’ ‘To Kill a Tiger’ Among Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Winners". Variety , January 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ Scott Souza, "'To Kill A Tiger' Wins Top Salem Film Fest 2023 Awards". Patch , April 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ Victoria Ahearn, "CCE Awards fete editors". Playback , May 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ Mellerup, Rick (June 14, 2023). "The 2023 Lighthouse International Film Festival Award Winners Are …". The SandPaper. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ Marko Stojiljković (May 19, 2023). "Kokomo City and Inbal Perlmutter: If You Let Me Go win big at the 25th Docaviv". Cineuropa. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  23. ↑ Margaux Sippell (May 29, 2023). "Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2023 Winners Include Unicorn Boy and A Still Small Voice". Moviemaker . Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  24. ↑ Pat Mullen, "Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel Board Canadian Doc To Kill a Tiger". Point of View , August 15, 2023.
  25. ↑ Connie Thiessen, "‘Women Talking’ leads winners at 22nd annual DGC Awards". Broadcast Dialogue, October 22, 2023.
  26. ↑ Carey, Matthew (21 November 2023). "'Apolonia, Apolonia,' 'The Mother Of All Lies,' 'Milisuthando' Lead Way As IDA Documentary Awards Announces Nominees – Full List". Deadline . Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  27. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  28. ↑ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "BlackBerry, Seagrass lead VFCC’s Canadian nominees". Playback , January 23, 2024.
  29. ↑ Pat Mullen, "Canadian Doc To Kill a Tiger Among Oscar Nominees for Documentary". Point of View , January 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.