By Gregory Crofton
Economic pressure, especially for men, can be one of the most challenging things to face in life.
Farming in the U.S. is subsidized by the federal government because making a living from the land can difficult.
Life for farmers in India is even more challenging because there are no subsidies to fall back on. When men take their soybeans and onions to market but fail to sell them at a profit, it can result in crushing, shaming debt.
“Marching in the Dark” is a beautiful observational documentary that follows a support group for widows of men who have died by suicide because of this type of farming debt.
Widows, often shunned by the community, struggle with the remaining financial burden while trying to find a path forward, which can include raising a child as a single parent and dealing with pressure from the late husband’s family.
Suicide of the patriarch of farming families in India is not uncommon. Filmed on location in the state of Maharashtra, India, “Marching in the Dark” brings to life some shocking statistics.
In Maharashtra from January to October 2023 , more than 2,300 farmers died by suicide, an average of seven deaths per day.
The filmmaker Kinshuk Surjan, a native of India, said in a statement that he made this documentary to bring attention to the issue, but also to see if its production could become part of the healing process.
“Could there be a safe space for a women’s group, a place to heal from grief and depression?” Surjan wrote. “In this way, through group therapy and by sharing their grief and stories of resilience, we hoped they could find strength and healing.”
With its nearly two-hour runningtime, the strength of this film is patience. True moments of grief, resilience and hope are captured in real time, each one photographed with grace.
“Marching in the Dark” screened at CHP:DOX 2024. You can find more about the doc at Clin d’oeil films and watch the trailer below.