A mother’s hair offering in rural India unveils a link between faith, sacrifice, and trade.

“Black Gold” is a visually striking film directed by a Japanese filmmaker, blending a minimalist aesthetic with the natural beauty of rural India – a true visual feast for cinephiles. Every detail is crafted with precision, reflecting a uniquely Japanese perspective.

The story unfolds in a remote village in southern India, where Saraswathi, like many women, performs the daily ritual of combing her daughters’ long hair. Human hair takes on a new significance when the Narikurava, an outcast bird-hunting tribe, come to collect it in exchange for household goods. In a powerful moment of spiritual devotion, Saraswathi makes a personal offering at the temple, unaware of the wider consequences her act will set in motion.

Marianna Kaat