The Absence Trilogy
Mrinal Sen's films Ekdin Pratidin, Kharij and Ekdin Achanak, considered amongst his best works, are sensitive portrayals of the middle-class psyche. Although not strictly forming a trilogy, having been produced years apart, each in its own way deals centrally with the idea of absence: the sudden absence of one member of a unit, exposing the absence of certain values, and leading to a qualitative change in relationships and attitudes amongst those left behind.
All Titles in Order
And Quiet Rolls the Dawn
The bread-winning daughter in a middle-class family fails to return from work one evening. The saga begins with worries at home, followed by midnight searches and finally a deepening crisis arising out of economic and moral constraints prevalent in the society. Yet the film speaks of hope and of strength hidden behind despair.
Open title →The Case Is Closed
A pre-teen servant boy dies of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning on a cold winter night in the kitchen. The household is suddenly plunged into psychological turmoil, torn between guilt and fear of a police investigation and the resulting scandal. As events unfold, the employer and his wife reveal their petty, hypocritical selves.
Open title →Ek Din Achanak
Shasanka is a retired teacher who lives with his wife and two daughters. The family is thrown into an uproar after he goes out for a walk and disappears from their lives. Each member of the family reviews her final hours and days with him to try and discover what, if anything led to his disappearance.
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