Questions that must be asked and truths that must be told are the driving forces of “The Rapist,” a gripping Indian social drama about a middle-class academic who wants her rapist — who has been sentenced to death and to whom she has fallen pregnant — to tell her exactly why he committed such a crime. One of the best works directed by veteran filmmaker-actor Aparna Sen (“36 Chowringhee Lane,” “Mr. and Mrs. Iyer”), “The Rapist” is a deeply affecting portrait of personal trauma and an intelligent examination of social and cultural factors fueling the horrifying prevalence of sexual violence in India.
Featuring a standout central performance by Konkona Sen Sharma, “The Rapist” is sure to make a strong impact domestically and deserves to be widely seen elsewhere following its world premiere at the Busan Film Festival With the full re-opening of Indian cinemas still some time away, “The Rapist” appears most likely to go straight to streaming. That said, its dramatic qualities and fearless commentary on a topic of urgent national importance could also lead to limited theatrical exposure prior to online release. Specialty distributors in foreign territories that generally acquire more lightweight commercial Indian fare should also give this one a look.
