Mon, Jan 27 / 7 pm
Directed by Rehmat Rayatt & Leva Kwestany
2019, UK/India, 66 min
Punjabi with English subtitles
Panel discussion and Skype Q&A with the directors following the screening.
Toxification tells the story of the plight of the Punjabi farmers. The north Indian state of Punjab was said to have produced enough food to feed the entire country during the Green Revolution. However, the overuse of chemicals introduced to enhance production has poisoned the water with carcinogens and created an infertile soil addicted to chemicals. As the land is dependent, so are more and more farmers becoming addicted to drugs, which help them to work longer hours in the fields.
Presented in partnership with the Winnipeg-based Kohinoor Collective, formed by Noor Bhangu and Gurpreet Sehra. Through the showcasing of film and video, Kohinoor uses a critical postcolonial lens to examine historical and contemporary topics impacting diasporic communities. The collective aims to grow into a strong network of artists and critical thinkers.