'Writing with Fire' Review | Hot Docs 2021

The 2021 Hot Docs Festival will be available for audiences across Canada to stream April 29 to May 9. Hot Docs is the largest documentary focused film festival in North America and the line-up this year is absolutely incredible.

Check out my full coverage of Hot Docs 2021!

Writing with Fire (2021)

Directors and Producers: Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh

Synopsis: In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men, emerges India's only newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions, be it on the frontlines of India's biggest issues or within the confines of their homes, redefining what it means to be powerful.

Review:

"I believe journalism is the essence of democracy." —  Meera Devi, Chief Reporter, Khabar Lahariya

Journalism has always been a powerful force to be reckoned with. Behind many important policy changes, criminal charges, and social shifts there was a reporter's determination.

Writing with Fire puts a spotlight on Khabar Lahariya ("Waves of News") -- India's only Dalit female-run newspaper. (Dalit are considered to be the lowest caste in India, the "untouchables"). We follow a few of Khabar Lahariya's senior and junior reporters as they report on stories across the country shedding light on rape cases, mining protests, and questioning government officials as a national election looms. We are given a glimpse into the lives of these women and the obstacles and struggles they are confronted with as Dalit and as women.

This film is astoundingly inspirational and optimistic. Women helping women become not just formidable reporters, but independent, resourceful, and intelligent individuals. Their chief reporter, Meera, mentors the young reporters in how to operate a smart phone, how to read English, and how to become better journalists. Perhaps even more motivating though is the desire of the junior reporters to get better. They seek out Meera's assistance and voice their career aspirations.

For these young women it is not simply about wanting to make a lot of money or obtain a particular title with the newspaper (or other outlet), it's about fighting against the social constructs they were born into. Fighting against the presumption that they will get married, have children, and take care of the home. Their desire to be the best journalists they can be is a desire to see a change in India.

Writing with Fire has won an Audience Award and Special Jury Award at Sundance and was named Best Documentary Feature at the San Francisco Film Festival and it's easy to see why. The directors/producers Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh found a compelling subject to explore and gave these women an opportunity to show the world what they have been building.

This is an incredible film about determination and fighting against the odds -- these women embody the adage "be the change you want to see in the world" and we should all learn from their example.

Writing with Fire is streaming in Canada via Hot Docs until May 9.

Thanks to Black Ticket Films for the screener!