Writing with Fire

Name: Writing with Fire
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 26, 2021
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Meera Devi, Shyamkali Devi, Suneeta Prajapati

2021

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Universal acclaim based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Writing With Fire

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Movie Details & Credits

Music Box Films | Release Date: November 26, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Meera Devi, Shyamkali Devi, Suneeta Prajapati

Summary: Reporting from a social environment built to divide based on caste and gender, a fearless group of journalists maintain India’s only women-led news outlet. The women of Khabar Lahariya (‘Waves of News’) prepare to transition the newspaper from print to digital even though many of their reporters don’t have access to electricity at home.Reporting from a social environment built to divide based on caste and gender, a fearless group of journalists maintain India’s only women-led news outlet. The women of Khabar Lahariya (‘Waves of News’) prepare to transition the newspaper from print to digital even though many of their reporters don’t have access to electricity at home. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her team of investigative journalists confront some of India’s biggest issues – exposing the relentless discrimination against women and amplifying the voices of those who suffer from the oppressive caste system. [Music Box Films]… Expand

Director: Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

100

G. Allen Johnson

Dec 3, 2021

Writing With Fire, directed by Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas, tags along with these remarkable women as they go about their work. Viewers sit in on editorial meetings and training sessions, and go out in the field...It’s well worth seeking out. Read full review

Aparita Bhandari

Dec 21, 2021

I’m fascinated by these women who cover dangerous ground – treading centuries of patriarchy and caste prejudice with measure and grace. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Mar 31, 2022

Perhaps most heartening about Writing With Fire is how the film doesn’t discount the personal toll on these women. Crusaders though they may be, they voice throughout the film their deep doubts and fears. Read full review

IndieWire Kate Erbland

Sep 16, 2021

Armed with eagle-eyed filmmakers and compelling subjects, the film deftly blends the (inextricably linked) personal and professional sides of the journalists’ work, offering up a wide-ranging look at a vital outlet with so many stories to tell. Read full review

The Film Stage Jared Mobarak

Mar 17, 2022

You can’t help be inspired by their courage under fire from all angles. Seeing these women smile in the faces of men telling them what they’re doing is wrong or refusing to understand the nuance of something as simple as filler shots for professionally edited interviews is as potent as them giving each one the middle finger since their presence in the news world is that and more on its own. Read full review

Amber Wilkinson

Sep 16, 2021

Whether the pen is mightier than the sword may be up for debate, but as this engaging and hopeful documentary by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh shows, words have the power to change things when wielded carefully. Read full review

Jenny Nulf

Nov 24, 2021

Writing With Fire is at its best when emphasizing the barriers these women have to overcome daily to fulfill their desires to be journalists, and showcasing the importance of Khabar Lahariya’s work where corruption runs amok. Read full review

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Brent_Marchant

Mar 24, 2022

In an age when journalism has become increasingly suspect, unreliable and untrustworthy, it's comforting to know that there are still committed media organizations out there devoted to reporting with honesty, integrity and a burning desire to uncover the truth. And it's heartening to noteIn an age when journalism has become increasingly suspect, unreliable and untrustworthy, it's comforting to know that there are still committed media organizations out there devoted to reporting with honesty, integrity and a burning desire to uncover the truth. And it's heartening to note that some of this work is coming from some unlikely sources. Such is the case with Khabar Lahariya, the only newspaper/online news channel in India run entirely by women -- and those of the Dalit caste, the so-called often-maligned segment of society crassly known as "the untouchables." What began as a venture that many believed was destined to fail, the organization has blossomed into a widely followed media outlet, with over 150 million viewers of its YouTube channel. Working from the northern Indian state of Uttar Prahesh, Khabar Lahariya has come to play an influential role in helping to effect meaningful social and cultural change. The staff has tirelessly reported on such topics as victimization against women, illegal mining, mob activity, corrupt and negligent government practices, insufficient infrastructure planning and programs, and the rise of political fundamentalist movements, often helping to spur on much-needed reforms. Directors Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas have compiled a thorough, up-close look at this group of truth seekers in their Oscar-nominated documentary feature debut, often placing their own lives in jeopardy in following this band of intrepid journalists into dangerous situations where their reporting places them in potentially grave peril. Viewers should be aware, however, that they may experience some sound quality issues in streaming this release, as I did when I watched it (background sounds and the film's score came through loud and clear, but the dialogue was problematic; thank goodness for subtitles). This glitch aside, however, "Writing with Fire" is exactly what its title says it is -- a passionate, inspiring story about a group of truth seekers who have refused to give up at a time when it's become all too easy for many of us to do so. Good for them -- and, ultimately, for us.… Expand

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