Cinema
The Ominous House
সূর্য দীঘল বাড়ী
Sheikh Niamat Ali · 1979
Synopsis
After the great famine of 1943, a poor family returns from Dhaka to its village: Jaigun, a divorced mother, with her daughter Maimun and her son Hasu. She settles in a house that rumour says is ill-omened and must hold her ground there, during the years of the world war, against hunger, superstition, the authority of men and exploitation, facing the village chief, Godu Prodhan, the fakir Jobed and her former husband, Karim Baksh.
Context
Filming began in 1977, and the two directors jointly sign the direction, production and screenplay, adapted from Abu Ishaque's novel published in 1955. It was the first film made with a grant from the government of Bangladesh, and it was first shown in a cinema in Natore. The photography is by Anwar Hossain, the editing by Saidul Anam Tutul. The critic Ahmed Muztaba Zamal ranked it in 2000 among the twelve best films of the country.
Who it is for
A black-and-white film of a little over two hours; it is better to know about the Bengal famine of 1943.
Prizes and reception
Seven national awards, including best film, best direction and best actress for Dolly Anwar; third prize at the Mannheim festival in 1980.