Esteemed filmmaker Mira Nair will bring Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s ‘Cactus Pears’ (Sabar Bonda) to North American release with support from Payal Kapadia, whose ‘All We Imagine as Light’ won international acclaim last year.
The Marathi film tells the story of Anand (Bhushan Manoj), a 30-something city-dweller who is forced into a 10-day mourning period for his father in the rugged countryside of western India, and forms a tender bond with Balya (Sooraj Suman), a local farmer who struggles to remain single.
The feature, which won the top international award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was later named Best New Director/New Film, opened to rave reviews at multiple film festivals around the world, including SXSW London, where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and was screened domestically at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Variety’s review of the film said, “It’s a rural gay story that begins in a state of mourning and melancholy, but ultimately takes on a sunny note due to the emotional complexity that emerges from its characters walking through truth precisely because euphemism is their only language.”
Strand Releasing, which acquired the North American rights, also released a new trailer for the film.
The film is produced by Neeraj Churi, Mohammed Karki, Kaushik Ray, Hareesh Reddypalli, Naren Chandavalkar, Sidharth Meer, and stars Nagraj Popatrao Manjur, Nikkhil Advani, Sai Tamhankar,
Vikramaditya Motwane, Ilan Girard and Kishore Vasant Sawant will serve as executive producers.
“We are honored to have Mira Nair provide Cactus Pears for its North American release,” said the producers. “Her films have always taught us that the greatest power of independent cinema lies in telling stories that others don’t tell, in voices that others don’t amplify. Whether it’s the streets of Mumbai or the fields of Maharashtra, being fundamentally special is how we reach a universal heart. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to present our beautiful, local stories to the world.”
Kapadia highly praised the film and said, “I was very moved by “Cactus Pear.” It depicts longing, sadness, and tenderness that remain long after the movie ends. It’s an intense yet tender story about a quiet romance. It’s a rare gift from cinema that makes you want to reach out and hold the hand of your loved one.”
“Last year, Payal Kapadia and her beautiful film ‘All We Imagine as Right’ were praised in India and around the world for its bold and artistically rich storytelling. As a fellow filmmaker whose work I deeply admire, knowing that ‘Cactus Pear’ touched her so deeply is both uplifting and truly humbling. Her poetic response filled me with great encouragement.”
Strand Releasing will release Cactus Pears exclusively at New York’s IFC Center on November 21st, and Nehru will screen the film during its opening weekend, followed by a discussion with Kanawade. The film opens on November 28th at the Lemurs Royal Theater in Los Angeles, followed by Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. Strand plans aggressive platform releases across North America.
“We are confident that ‘Cactus Pairs’ will resonate with North American audiences and help set the pace for the film’s success and the future of Kanawade’s career,” said Marcus Hu, co-president of Strand Releasing.
