Community Cinema Screening of LAKSHMI & ME in Chicago

Community Cinema hosted a screening of the Independent Lens film LAKSHMI & ME this past weekend at the Chicago Cultural Center. The film gives an intimate look at the relationship between an employer and servant in India and the ingrained social and cultural attitudes that govern their lives. Regional Outreach Coordinator Naomi Walker gives an overview of the event.

A large crowd gathers at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Speakers Anuja Mehta and Dr. Tarini Bedi discuss the Community Cinema screening of LAKSHMI & ME with Regional Outreach Coordinator Naomi Walker.

A huge crowd packed the Chicago Cultural Center to sit in a dark theater on a beautiful sunny day to watch the Community Cinema screening of LAKSHMI & ME and participate in a lively discussion. In one word: Miraculous!

Guest speakers included: Dr. Tarini Bedi, associate director of the South Asia language and area center and the committee on Southern Asian Studies at the University of Chicago; and Anuja Mehta, coordinator of transitional housing and case manager for Apna Ghar, Inc., a domestic violence shelter for Asian women.

Dr. Bedi and Ms. Mehta gave their initial impressions and thoughts about the film. Mehta went deeper by giving background information on abuse of domestic workers and gave an overview of the types of difficulties South Asian immigrants face in the United States. Many of these women have a hard time dealing with domestic violence and family members often do not come forward to get help she explained.

Dr. Bedi got many questions from audience members looking for a better understanding of the caste system, its history and the different sub-castes and class differences in India. While the issue is very complicated, Dr. Bedi cleared up some common misunderstandings about caste.

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Tags: caste system, Chicago, India

Watch LAKSHMI AND ME Tonight on Independent Lens

Have you ever dreamed of being waited on hand and foot? For the past six years, Lakshmi has been doing just that for her employers––virtually unnoticed. That is, until one of Lakshmi’s employers begins to film her daily life on the job in Mumbai, India. In a deeply personal portrait, the film takes a hard look at the Indian caste system, gender and class relations.

“… A rich, twisty, quietly shocking portrait of a life lived in veritable slavery–where Lakshmi’s gender doesn’t trap her, her place in the caste system does–and the rare sort of soul that somehow manages to flourish under such restrictions,” The Seattle Stranger.

Check out the clip below:

LAKSHMI AND ME premieres tonight at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Tags: caste system, India, online video