Take in the remarkable body of work from Oscar-nominated, Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta at TIFF Lightbox this month. 

From April 4-23, as part of TIFF’s Cinematheque programming, Through the Fire: The Films of Deepa Mehta will showcase the films that defined the 30+ year career of the iconic writer-director. This retrospective will celebrate Mehta’s bold, deeply moving work, and in time for National Canadian Film Day on April 16, mark her contributions to our country’s cinematic history.

The retrospective looks back on Mehta’s extensive body of work, from her solo directorial debut—the odd couple drama Sam & Me, to her biggest box office success—Bollywood/Hollywood, to the groundbreaking Elements trilogy that shaped her career. 

The first installment of the trilogy, Fire, depicted a relationship between two Hindu women, leading to censorship upon its release in India. Mehta herself led protests which would return the film to theatres. Themes of liberation run through many of her films, which often feature elements of magical realism grounded in deeply emotional human stories.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Mehta is also known for exploring the struggles of women within patriarchal structures. Her 2008 film Heaven on Earth follows a woman who marries into an abusive family and finds solace in a vivid fantasy world, while her haunting, experimental film Anatomy of Violence is based on the devasting rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi. 

The TIFF retrospective will launch on April 4 with a screening of Fire. Mehta is scheduled to attend several of the screenings for live Q&As following the films. 

Here are all the Deepa Mehta films you can watch at TIFF Lightbox this April:

See the full schedule for Through the Fire: The Films of Deepa Mehta and purchase tickets here.