Toronto-based Shetu Modi is a writer, director and editor who says she grew up in a mid-sized city with an active South Asian community and had lots of South Asian friends, but still had trouble accepting parts of herself into her 20s. Dhruvi, the protagonist of her short film The Pits “deals with similar issues of identity and balancing two different cultures, and xenophobia and internalized racism.” (Indiegogo)
Viewers encounter Dhruvi at age 13, discovering that eating Indian food daily makes her armpit sweat smell a certain way. Then we see an older university-going Dhruvi, whose food intake seems to be more of the peanut butter variety. She meets an attractive desi neighbor in the elevator, but initially seems less interested when he turns out to be a recent immigrant.
Touching on broad themes of identity, self-acceptance and how they might tie into romantic love, the film has found its way to film fest audiences across the world, including Mumbai, London, and upcoming dates in the U.S. and Canada. Get screening details at the end of the post after watching the trailer at the top and reading this quick condensed Q&A with the filmmaker.
How did you get started in making films?
To be perfectly honest, I was obsessed with Titanic when I was 13, and that’s how I became interested in film-making. I studied film production in university but I didn’t do anything film-related for several years after that. I really got back into it in 2016, with a very short narrative film about a girl who likes the idea of playing the flute.
To be perfectly honest, I was obsessed with Titanic when I was 13, and that’s how I became interested in film-making. I studied film production in university but I didn’t do anything film-related for several years after that. I really got back into it in 2016, with a very short narrative film about a girl who likes the idea of playing the flute.
What inspired The Pits?
I notice I smelled like Indian food whenever I ate a lot of it! And then I built a story around it, combining it with some of my experiences in university.
I notice I smelled like Indian food whenever I ate a lot of it! And then I built a story around it, combining it with some of my experiences in university.
Why do you think something like how someone smells can tap into broader issues like xenophobia, racism, and cultural identity?
Certain smells feel very welcoming and pleasant and tie you to home and growing up and your cultural background. And then those smells are used to pull you down because they’re so distinct. I don’t think people realize how personal insulting how your food smells can feel.
Certain smells feel very welcoming and pleasant and tie you to home and growing up and your cultural background. And then those smells are used to pull you down because they’re so distinct. I don’t think people realize how personal insulting how your food smells can feel.
Can you share anything about future projects you are working on?
I am working on a web series about a woman in her late twenties who is a bit of a late bloomer.
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Catch a screening of The Pits at an upcoming film festival:
Austin Asian American Film Festival, (Free Program) Dec. 9, Austin, TX. 12PM.
Filmi South Asian Film Festival, Dec. 10, Toronto, Canada. 7:30PM.
The South Asian International Film Festival, Dec. 16, NYC. 10PM.
Watch the film online: https://vimeo.com/286610562
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Pavani Yalamanchili is an editor at The Aerogram. Find her on Twitter at @_pavani, and follow The Aerogram at @theaerogram and on Facebook.
