A Documentary Response Essay to ‘A Season Outside’ by Amar Kanwar
This article will put forward my personal response after having watched the narrative documentary, “A Season Outside” by Amar Kanwar. The movie has vividly displayed the negative effect on the population that took place due to the partition on the border between India and Pakistan. Yet it has also tried to communicate by persuading to seek for the wisdom and patience in order to bring peace and conflict resolution. I too certainly agree with the nonviolent activist Mr. Gandhi and his philosophy of nonviolence movement.
This documentary investigates the profound psychological effect on people, a great pain and suffering in many families, political distress in countries, economic crisis, and aggressive violence everywhere. The border which was established between India and Pakistan based on religion caused dreadful violence among peoples where many lost their lives and the widespread trauma is another legacy of this conflict. There were wars often with guns, there were women without hope, children with violent attitude and untouchable with full of anger. Even the parents of the narrator had to flee from Punjab during massacre.
There is no natural brotherly affection between those two little kids as we see the older brother pushing or throwing his little brother towards the street. The violence has even led these little kids to aggressive behavior. Even monks who are always observed and considered to be nonviolent and peacemakers are seen in a mass of protestors. Crows trying to provoke the dog is one the most noticeable scenarios in this particular movie. As we have always known the fact that dog is obviously more powerful than crows but on the contrary, here we see the tiny, weak, little dog is being irritated by a group of crows again and again.
The strange scenario of the ritual of closing the gate on the border appears to be very outrageous and at the same time the strong feeling of patriotism is being displayed. The way the military personnel on either side marched aggressively with muscular foot stamping and roaring voice might want to reveal their extreme form of patriotism marked by a feeling of extreme superiority over other countries. Thousands of spectators on either side of the border are observed to witness this ceremony with hands clapping as an expression of approval. Witnessing this ritual invokes people to use the violence and pollutes both cultures and people’s mind.
In addition, even the display of weapons from the veranda that is shown in the movie and at the same time spectators witnessing the event with great applauses have become their part of culture and considered to be one of their biggest prides. I see how cultural and social norms support violence and give confidence to people to use the violence.
Kanwar’s “A Season Outside” begins with the display of poor manual workers who are seen to be standing in a queue on either side of the border waiting to transfer heavy sacs of items to the other side. It was awfully shocking to see one group of laborers wearing costumes in red color whereas another group of laborers wearing costumes in blue color. And none of them can cross over that line. That row or strip from the outside looks just simple with a white color on it but on the contrary it has carried a very deep meaning in it. This white row that is profoundly established in every people’s mind has a gigantic negative effect on them which can neither be forgotten nor be cured. It is being narrated in the movie that only birds and butterflies have full liberty to cross that border line. The scenario appeared to be very restricted, full of agony and misery. The emotional and psychological effects on these workers are vividly depicted due to specific colors of their costumes and the boundaries. Rules and restrictions within a social group can encourage and invoke violence.
Amar Kanwar has repeatedly pronounced Gandhi’s name and his philosophy in his documentary. He is one of my favorite philosophers and I like his philosophy of nonviolence movement. To seek for the truth is being encouraged in the movie that is seeking peace and resolution through tolerance and wisdom. However, the Hindu extremist themselves disrespected or ignored the notion of Gandhi's effort and communities were forced to take arms.
In conclusion, this documentary, “A Season Outside” reveals how rules and regulations, limitations and restrictions invoke or influence brutality and, how cultural and social norms encourage or manipulate to support violence. The populations of India and Pakistan have always lived their lives with full of cultural, social and psychological issues due to the great dividing wall between them. However, it is also very significant to comprehend and embrace the notion of Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolence movement and who has always shown the path of seeking wisdom and patience in order to bring peace and conflict resolution.