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]
| To Kill a Tiger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Nisha Pahuja |
| Written by | Nisha Pahuja |
| Produced by | David Oppenheim Nisha Pahuja Cornelia Principe |
| Cinematography | Mrinal Desai |
| Edited by | Dave Kazala Mike Munn |
| Music by | Jonathan Goldsmith |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Netflix[a] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 127 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | Hindi |
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
editTo 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
editThe 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
edit| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2022 | Best Canadian Film | To Kill a Tiger | Won | [15] |
| Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival | 2022 | Inspiring Voices and Perspectives | Won | [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 Documentary | To Kill a Tiger | Won | [18] |
| Salem Film Fest | 2023 | Special Jury Award | Won | [19] | |
| Michael Sullivan Award for Documentary Journalism | Won | ||||
| Canadian Cinema Editors Awards | 2023 | Best Editing in Feature Documentary | Mike Munn and Dave Kazala | Won | [20] |
| Lighthouse International Film Festival | 2023 | Audience Award for Best Documentary | To Kill a Tiger | Won | [21] |
| Honey Levine Audience Choice Award | Won | ||||
| Doc Aviv- Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival | 2023 | Beyond the Screen Award | Won | [22] | |
| Mammoth Lakes Film Festival | 2023 | Best International Documentary Feature | Won | [23] | |
| New York Indian Film Festival | 2023 | Best Documentary | Won | [24] | |
| Directors Guild of Canada | 2023 | Allan King Award for Best Documentary | Won | [25] | |
| IDA Documentary Awards | 2023 | Best Original Music Score | Jonathan Goldsmith | Nominated | [26] |
| Best Writing | Nisha Pahuja | Nominated | |||
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | 2024 | Best Documentary | Nisha Pahuja | Won | [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 Oppenheim | Nominated | [29] |
Notes
edit- ^ 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.
References
edit- ^ "Tanya Tagaq doc, Indigenous romance among Canadian titles added to TIFF slate". CityNews, August 10, 2022.
- ^ Johanna Schneller, "Documentary details fight for justice against sexual violence in India". The Globe and Mail, February 9, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2023 Lighthouse International Film Festival: Documentaries and Narrative Features". New Jersey Stage, May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Oscar-nominated documentary 'To Kill A Tiger' bought by Netflix". The New Indian Express. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Three Feature Docs Make Canada’s Top Ten". Point of View, December 8, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Andrew Parker, "To Kill a Tiger Review: Only God Forgives". TheGATE.ca, February 9, 2023.
- ^ James Mackin, "REVIEW: To Kill A Tiger, a refusal to ignore justice". CityNews, February 9, 2023.
- ^ Staff (2022-09-11). "TIFF 2022 – Day Four". Northernstars.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "Mindy Kaling endorses Toronto filmmaker Nisha Pahuja's doc at TIFF |". Shedoesthecity. 2022-09-06. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ Andrew Jeffrey, "TIFF ’22: “Black Ice,” “While We Watched” among award winners". RealScreen, September 19, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ William Earl, "‘Saint Omer,’ ‘To Kill a Tiger’ Among Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Winners". Variety, January 15, 2023.
- ^ Scott Souza, "'To Kill A Tiger' Wins Top Salem Film Fest 2023 Awards". Patch, April 3, 2023.
- ^ Victoria Ahearn, "CCE Awards fete editors". Playback, May 29, 2023.
- ^ Mellerup, Rick (June 14, 2023). "The 2023 Lighthouse International Film Festival Award Winners Are …". The SandPaper. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Margaux Sippell (May 29, 2023). "Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2023 Winners Include Unicorn Boy and A Still Small Voice". Moviemaker. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel Board Canadian Doc To Kill a Tiger". Point of View, August 15, 2023.
- ^ Connie Thiessen, "‘Women Talking’ leads winners at 22nd annual DGC Awards". Broadcast Dialogue, October 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "BlackBerry, Seagrass lead VFCC’s Canadian nominees". Playback, January 23, 2024.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Canadian Doc To Kill a Tiger Among Oscar Nominees for Documentary". Point of View, January 23, 2024.
External links
edit- To Kill a Tiger at IMDb
- To Kill a Tiger at the National Film Board of Canada catalog
- To Kill a Tiger at TVOntario