The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs

This visually entrancing cinematic fable takes us to northwestern India, to the spectacular landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir which have been the center of dispute between India and Pakistan. Young Laila marries a shepherd from the area and the two make their home in the heart of the mountains, where her beauty and strength make her the obsession of a befuddled police officer and the forest guard. The fourth feature by Indian director Pushpendra Singh is structured around a series of local folk songs and poetic interludes, which function as Laila’s interior monologues. It’s an original and captivating film that is charged with humor and exceptional cinematography.