Hot Docs Bound ‘Marriage Cops’ Nabbed by MetFilm for International Sales, Clip Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)

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Global distribution rights for “Marriage Cops,” a feature-length documentary directed by Shashwati Talukdar and Cheryl Hess, have been acquired by MetFilm Sales. This thought-provoking film will make its debut at this year’s Hot Docs festival in Canada. The filmmakers have shared an initial sneak peek from the documentary.

The Hindi-language production, jointly made by India and the U.S., narrates the stories of Sub-Inspectors Sandhya and Krishna – two diligent police officers committed to their careers – who handle various marital conflicts at the Women’s Helpline located in Dehradun, India. These conflicts range from abusive partners, absent fathers, unfaithful wives, to meddlesome mothers-in-law.

The movie delves into the intricate impact of law enforcement on individuals’ private lives, using a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ technique to portray the conflicting dynamics and power struggles in family settings.

The movie examines how law enforcement influences citizens’ personal lives, by filming in a realistic style to showcase the internal conflicts and power struggles within families.

Directors Talukdar and Hess stated, ‘What we uncovered was significantly more intricate than we initially anticipated.’ They explained that police officers, being part of the government, can find themselves in a challenging position when enforcing rules within an institution that affects entire families and communities. In this narrative, there are no completely evil or innocent parties – only individuals struggling to maneuver through a system that provides them with power and limitations.”

Or simply:

“Directors Talukdar and Hess found what they investigated to be much more convoluted than anticipated. They pointed out that police officers, who are part of the government, can find it difficult to enforce rules in an institution that impacts entire families and communities. In this case, there are no clear-cut villains or victims – just people trying to deal with a system that both empowers and restricts them.

Born and bred in India, Talukdar has a rich background in film editing. She’s previously served as an assistant editor for Michael Moore and contributed to productions aired on HBO, BBC, Lifetime, Sundance, and Cablevision. Her works have been showcased at renowned international festivals such as Busan and the Whitney Biennial.

From Philadelphia, Hess – a renowned filmmaker and cinematographer who has won awards – recently took home the title for best director (in the short film category) at Atlanta Docufest for “She Got Balls!”. Additionally, he served as a co-cinematographer alongside Ufuoma Essi on “Is My Living in Vain?”, which was honored with a Silver Bear at the Chicago International Film Festival.

The documentary was created by Diana Chiawen Lee, who has previously worked on “The Catch,” a project that garnered the Grand Prize, Best Documentary, and Best Cinematography awards at the 2021 Taipei Film Festival.

MetFilm Sales, an arm of the multi-faceted MetFilm Group’s studio operation, provides comprehensive representation for producers. This encompasses aspects like script development, funding, and strategic planning for film festivals, all the way to global distribution. Their present lineup features Brendan Kramer’s “Holding Liat,” a Documentary Award winner at Berlinale, Michael Premo’s “Homegrown,” which debuted at Venice, Gar O’Rourke’s “Sanatorium,” and Ross Whitaker’s “Beat the Lotto.”

MetFilm Sales, a component of MetFilm Group’s integrated studio setup, offers complete producer services that span from script development to worldwide sales. Their portfolio includes “Holding Liat” by Brendan Kramer, which won the Documentary Award at Berlinale, Michael Premo’s “Homegrown,” premiered at Venice, Gar O’Rourke’s “Sanatorium,” and Ross Whitaker’s “Beat the Lotto.

Watch the clip here:

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2025-04-09 17:16