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The Bengali

Play trailer Poster for The Bengali Released Sep 9, 2022 1h 12m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
An unlikely quest takes an African-American woman from New Orleans across deep divides of culture to India, in search of her family's past. Her journey sparks a boldly different encounter between East and West. As she searches for the truth in the tales she grew up with, a surprising story unfolds of the first South Asians in the U.S. who married African-American women. It evokes the richness and wonder of families stretching across time and place, looking for where they come from.

Critics Reviews

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Robert Abele TheWrap Something tells me the off-camera conversations Kaish and Kaul had are more interesting than what we see in “The Bengali.” Sep 15, 2022 Full Review Beandrea July New York Times The documentary meanders from scene to scene without sufficient dramatic tension (or relevant historical context) to propel it forward into denouement. Sep 8, 2022 Full Review Nuha Hassan Nuha Hassan (Medium) The Bengali teaches about the importance of family, cultural values and languages, and how communities are close-knit in many communities. Jul 21, 2023 Full Review Valerie Kalfrin AWFJ.org The lyrical and poetic documentary The Bengali is about assumptions, stories handed down through generations, and how simple moments can dissolve resistance. Sep 12, 2022 Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Mildly engaging and illuminating, but limited in scope and incomplete. Sep 10, 2022 Full Review Q.V. Hough Vague Visages There's plenty of skepticism to be found in The Bengali; however, that's just the starting point for an important conversation about first encounters, cultural education and life-changing travel experiences. Feb 18, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jezra Kaye This excellent and visually stunning film follows a Black woman from New Orleans on her journey to the rural hamlet in India where her grandfather grew up. Her search for Bengali relatives runs up against the suspicions of villagers who've never met an American before, and don't trust her motives. The results are moving, surprising, and deeply human. Don't miss it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/22 Full Review Read all reviews
The Bengali

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Cast & Crew

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Kavery Kaul

Director

Fatima Shaik

Self

Nicole Hardin

Self

Mario Tio

Self

Celeste Little

Self

Sophia Little

Self

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The Bengali

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Movie Info

Synopsis An unlikely quest takes an African-American woman from New Orleans across deep divides of culture to India, in search of her family's past. Her journey sparks a boldly different encounter between East and West. As she searches for the truth in the tales she grew up with, a surprising story unfolds of the first South Asians in the U.S. who married African-American women. It evokes the richness and wonder of families stretching across time and place, looking for where they come from.
Director
Kavery Kaul
Producer
Lucas Groth, Kavery Kaul
Screenwriter
Kavery Kaul
Distributor
Dada Films
Production Co
Riverfilms
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 9, 2022, Limited
Runtime
1h 12m