Hailstorm(2021)
Hailstorm is based in the Narmada valley in central India, an area with extremely low levels of groundwater. Farmers here battle for survival, pitched against the vagaries of climate change. Following the events of a freak hailstorm over four seasons, the film unfolds the vulnerability and precarity of those that are at the sharpest end of global capitalism’s rapacious greed and the furthest from its benefits.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 10 September 2021
- Director
- Shobhit Jain
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 1m
- Rating
- 4.5/10
Storyline
This documentary follows farmers in central India's Narmada valley, where groundwater is very scarce. Over four seasons after a freak hailstorm, it shows their struggle to survive against climate change. The film reveals how these communities, hit hardest by global capitalism, face extreme vulnerability while receiving few of its benefits.
“Surviving the storm, fighting for every drop.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was shot over four years to capture the full impact of changing seasons on the farmers.
- Director Shobhit Jain lived in the Narmada valley during filming to build trust with the community.
- It premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, a major platform for documentaries.
- The documentary uses no scripted dialogue, relying entirely on real conversations with farmers.
- It was independently produced with a small crew, focusing on a low-impact, observational style.
- The film highlights how a single hailstorm can destroy an entire year's crop for these farmers.
- Footage includes rare scenes of local water conservation practices that are centuries old.