Shakespeare-Wallah

(James Ivory, US 1965, 121 min., 35mm)

Shakespeare. Following a nomadic troupe of Indian actors performing Shakespeare’s plays throughout small Indian towns and villages, James Ivory’s Shakespeare-Wallah is loosely based on the real-life Kendal family, who play fictionalized versions of themselves in the film. A gem from the Eastman Museum’s film archive, this small drama explores the world of traveling actors struggling to put on productions and remain relevant to local audiences during the rise of the Bollywood film industry.