2024 Sydney Film Festival to showcase Indian feature film 'Rapture'

Directed by Dominic Sangma, 'Rapture' was shot in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya state in India. It delves into superstition, indigenous faith, assumptions, imagination, fear of the unknown, and inner turmoil within the characters. In this podcast, Dominic Sangma discusses how his childhood memories inspired the film.

Still from Rapture directed by Dominic Sangma Source: Supplied / Sydney Film Festival

The film 'Rapture' begins with the quote "Either it's night, or we don't need the light" written on a pitch-dark blank screen.

In an interview with SBS Hindi, the director explains how the film's use of light and darkness carries a metaphorical significance.

In the opening shot, it is pitch dark at night and the only way to navigate is to carry lanterns. The idea I wanted to convey was that darkness can only be dispelled by carrying your own light.

Dominic Sangma

Still from Dominic Sangma, Rapture, 2023 Source: Supplied / Sydney Film Festival

'Rapture' is Sangma’s second film in a trilogy based on his childhood experiences and memories of growing up in a hilly place.

What you see in the film is something that I have experienced, be it the fear of darkness, outsiders, or child kidnappers. When I was a kid, like Kasan (the child artist in the film), I also suffered from night blindness.

Dominic Sangma

Sangma also shares his own childhood experience of witnessing an outsider being severely beaten by villagers who couldn't understand his language.

Tune in here for the Interview with Dominic Sangma about his film 'Rapture' :-

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hindi_010624_film Rapture_interview_DominicSangma.mp3

11:42

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He explains that the film can be interpreted in various ways, representing fears such as the fear of outsiders, superstitions, political darkness, child kidnappers, and even the fear of organ theft

The film, according to Sangma, has many layers of darkness and fear.

Still from Rapture directed by Dominic Sangma Source: Supplied / Sydney Film Festival

He added that the film is about exploring a morally complex question.

Why are we so fearful? Why are we afraid of strangers who are different to us. Who dictates these fears? … This is the darkness.

Dominic Sangma

Still from Rapture directed by Dominic Sangma Source: Supplied / Sydney Film Festival

During one of the challenging shoots of the film in a far-east Indian hilly area, where vehicles often cannot reach and there is a lack of technical support, Sangma was overwhelmed by the support of the entire village.

They knew it was their film, Garo community... the whole village supported and helped, like a family.

Filmmaker Dominic Sangma

Dominic Sangma Source: Supplied / Sydney Film Festival

Dominic Megam Sangma received his filmmaking education at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in India.

His first feature film, 'MA•AMA', became the first Garo film to win the National Award. The film won the Best Cinematography Award at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival 2019.

He has also served as a jury member for Indian Panorama, the International Film Festival of India, and the Guwahati International Short Film and Documentary Film Festival.

Film ‘Rapture' will have its Australian Premier at the Sydney Film Festival ( 5 June - 16 June 2024)

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