As a kid, Singh’s family ran a Cinema Hall in India until they were shut down by anti-Sikh sentiment. His life shifted to poverty, bullying, and reading books alone—until the day he watched The 400 Blows. Completely self-taught, Ajitpal Singh decided 10 years ago that he would become a filmmaker. Now, his first feature film Fire in the Mountains just premiered as the only World Competition film from South Asia at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Nuanced acting, sly comedy, and a layered mise-en-scene contrasting tradition with modernity punctuate his unique debut. Inspired in subject by real-life experiences, and in style by Singh's unusual life, the film tells the story of a pragmatic woman in a remote Himalayan village who is saving up money for a road to take her wheelchair-bound son to school. No Film School caught up with Singh before the premiere to hear the incredible story of his life and how it put him on the long road to learning the language of film. Read More...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 16 February, 2021