Homebound (2025)

This movie is short listed for the International film category for the 2026 Oscars, and it is well worth watching--I really loved it. It is a story of friendship and tragedy. Chandan Kuma is a Dalit from what used to be called the “untouchable” caste, and his best friend Mohammed Shoaib Ali is a Muslim. The both come from dirt poor families and are facing few options to improve their lot unless they migrate to a city or go abroad. Indeed, Shoaib has just turned down a chance to work in Dubai. Chandan and Shoaib take the exam to qualify for the police academy on the same day, but bureaucracy being what it is they have nearly a year to wait for their results. They face limited choices for success which is based not on their talents but on their station at birth--the message is very clear that while there has been some movement on that front in India, the chances are still quite slim for success. The two of them part and come back together for a variety of reasons, and then COVID strikes and it all changes quite dramatically. The script is excellent, the cinematography equal to the task, and it is worthy of watching--also it is streaming on Netflix.