Marching in the Dark (2024) – Kinshuk Surjan

Rural regions in India suffer a high suicide rate among farmers. A group of women farmers who recently lost their husbands, have decided to meet a local psychologist and activist to share their stories and problems and help others in their grief. In this act of silent rebellion against a patriarchal society, the 28-year-old introverted Sanjeevani finds the courage to be self-reliant.

Intent on providing a better life for herself and her children after the suicide of her farmer-husband, Sanjivani struggles not only against the structures of a patriarchal society that incapacitates and renders invisible widows like her, but also with the mountain of debt left by her late husband. It is only when she joins a discussion group with other farmer-suicide widows that she discovers that she is not alone with her despair and grief – the suicide rate among peasants who took their lives in the face of crop failures and dumping prices on the globalised market is harrowing: 400,000 in the last twenty years. Empowered by community, shared stories of resilience, and unexpected solidarity, Sanjivani cautiously forges a path forward. With stunning cinematography and a warm empathetic eye for his protagonists, the director manages to render a careful representation of a complex subject.

Since its release at CPH:DOX in Spring 2024, the documentary Marching in the Dark has been on an impressive journey not only in international film festivals, but also within India, where the film was screened in cinemas, festivals and community centres on multiple locations. Since then the film has been released in selected theatres in Belgium.