India's Frontier Railways is a fascinating look at the trains running from India to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. The three part series explores the lives of the people who work and travel on these trains. I was moved by the sheer poverty and simplicity of their lives and how these ageing trains bring hope, life and connection. The director has captured the moment - and brought to life the rich and difficult lives of India's neighbours - regardless of their status and religion. One thing that stood out for me was their sense of hope - one young man in Nepal wanted to join his brother working as a labourer in Qatar. To do this his father, who worked for the railways, would have to borrow money for the air ticket etc and pay the debt back at 60% interest per year. The series by Gerry Troyna is well crafted - I watched it on Netflix.
2 Reviews
An antidote to these divisive times
srinivasane-arav9 May 2019
This series was such a pleasure to watch. A heartwarming documentary on Indian railways and shared history of the countries of the subcontinent. Showcases the value of peace and unity among the diverse cultures that share the region. Had some of the best background music I can remember in a documentary.
My review would sound insincere if I don't mention any flaws. The subtitles incorrectly stated Bengali as a 'dialect' while it's its own language. It's typical, disappointing reduction of cultural diversity and richness of the subcontinent we see so often in media from the west. However, it was easy to forgive this given how amazing the series was overall.
My review would sound insincere if I don't mention any flaws. The subtitles incorrectly stated Bengali as a 'dialect' while it's its own language. It's typical, disappointing reduction of cultural diversity and richness of the subcontinent we see so often in media from the west. However, it was easy to forgive this given how amazing the series was overall.
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