A newlywed couple and their best friend play key roles in Bhopal Express, a film set against the gas tragedy of 1984. Verma is an assistant manager at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, and is very much in love with Tara. Their closest friend, Bashir, used to work at the plant, but left because of his distrust of the factory’s practices. He now works as a rickshaw driver, and constantly hounds Verma to leave the plant and join his business. This is a very human drama that witnesses very inhuman events: on the night of December 2, tons of toxic gas leaked from the plant, killing thousands overnight and creating the largest industrial disaster ever -- a disaster still being felt by the people of Bhopal. This film is a striking interpretation of the circumstances of the tragedy that will shake audiences out of their complacency. Directed by Mahesh Mathai, India, 2001, 100 min.

Shown with Sea Song (Richard Reeves, Canada, 1999, 4 min), Richard Reeves’ ‘cameraless’ film, we are treated to a pulsating impression of life beneath the sparkling sea at night. Brightly-painted aquatic forms and textures flash and float across the screen to a foot-tapping soundtrack of hand-drawn booms, crackles, hisses, pops, and buzzes.

Cosponsored with the South Asia Program and the Department of Science and Technology Studies.