强奸犯 The Rapist

Naina, a criminal psychology professor, is sexually assaulted in a slum she visits to help the daughter of a school custodian embroiled in a case of domestic violence and infanticide. Upon surviving the attack that leaves her colleague dead, Naina fights social prejudices and testifies, which leads to the rapist-murderer’s death sentence. Later, Naina discovers her pregnancy and tries to cope with her trauma in her own way. Veteran Indian director Aparna Sen poses powerful questions about gender, class, and institutional contradictions in India through a dilemma faced by a couple who oppose the death penalty. The shots of past memories and hallucinations that abruptly intrude on reality powerfully visualize the trauma that Naina experiences. The director′s daughter and actress Konkona Sen presents a delicate portrayal of Naina, and Arjun Rampal appears as her husband. Gitanjali Rao, who directed the popular animation Bombay Rose (2019), makes a cameo appearance as the rapist′s mother. (PARK Sun Young)