A 56-year-old insurance agent, whose hopelessness gives birth to a powerful people’s movement; Delhi’s terrible air pollution; a young woman writes letters to her estranged lover — these are the plots of the three films from India that have made it to the Cannes Film Festival.

After being wiped out last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is back at French Riviera, bringing much-needed relief to the industry. The 11-day festival from July 6 to 17 will witness several films, from both well-known and budding filmmakers. 

Also read: How are films selected for Cannes Film Festival?

Here are the films from India that have made the cut:

‘Eka (Solo)’ by Suman Sen

The directorial debut of Kolkata-based Suman Sen, ‘Eka (Solo)’ is among the 10 films by budding filmmakers from emerging countries, selected for the La Fabrique Cinema programme.

Currently in the scripting stage, ‘Eka’ traces the journey of Biplab, a 56-year-old insurance agent whose frustration and hopelessness give birth to a popular people’s movement. 

“The film reflects and documents the kind of time I am living in for the last couple of years. A time of hatred, intolerance, violence,” Sen said in a statement, reported PTI.

“I believe that the reason our society is failing today comes from the burden of our past. I see the world through my father’s eyes. Their generation failed us entirely, in every sense. We have become intellectually bankrupt, emotionally isolated and politically paralyzed because of their indifference to society, to our nation,” he added.

Sen’s film is backed by Arifur Rahman and Bijon of Goopy Bagha Productions from Bangladesh and renowned producer Dominique Welinski of DW Productions from France.

‘Invisible Demons’  by Rahul Jain

In this documentary titled ‘Invisible Demons’, the Delhi-born filmmaker delves into the menace of air pollution in India’s capital city in which pollutants are the invisible demons.

The documentary will feature in a new section, ‘Cinema for the Climate’, which focuses on the issue of climate change.

The film festival, starting this year, is also taking steps towards a carbon-neutral event. It has made a switch to electric and hybrid cars that now make 60% of the festival’s car fleet, halved printed materials and reduced the volume of the red carpet by 53%.

‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’ by Payal Kapadia

A debut feature by Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) alumnus Payal Kapadia, ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’ is an epistolary film about a woman who writes letters to her estranged lover.

Also read: Ten things to watch out for at Cannes 2021

A Night of Knowing Nothing’ is among the 24 feature films, part of the Director’s Fortnight