Film

A Throw of Dice

Director
F. Osten
Certificate
U
Running Time
76 mins

When he was commissioned to compose a new score for it back in 2006, Nitin Sawhney described this Indian silent epic from 1929 as “a cross between Chaplin, Cecil B. DeMille and an early Bollywood movie”, which is as good a summation as any. Based on an episode from the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata and shot on location in Rajasthan with more than 10,000 extras, it’s the tale of two neighbouring kings who are both addicted to gambling and in love with the same woman. The evil king gets to have his evil way by fixing a game of dice with the good king, but justice prevails in the end.

This City Museum screening, presented in association with South West Silents, features brand new live musical accompaniment by pianist Stephen Horne and Jeevan Singh on percussion (tabla & dhol). There’s also a supporting programme of home movies from India from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection. Go here for tickets and further information.

By robin askew, Monday, Jan 14 2019

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