Press reviews for „Four Nights“ by Deepak Rauniyar.
„Rauniyar’s Berlinale Shorts selection “Four Nights” follows filmmaker Ram (Rai) and actor Maya (Magrati) who have moved thousands of miles from their home in Nepal in the hope of realizing their dreams in New York City. As Ram works to finish his feature film, Maya receives a job offer that puts a strain on their relationship. “Eighteen years ago, Asha and I met on a film set. The shared love for cinema and art brought us together, but the same passion at a point threatened to separate us,” says Rauniyar. “We filmmakers don’t often talk about the darkness behind the shadows of the glamor of the red carpet, festivals, and awards. ‘Four Nights’ is an attempt to turn that camera and face us, the filmmakers. Though most of our works had been in Nepal, for the past 11 years, we have primarily lived in the U.S. I’m fascinated by New York as a city and the complexity of living here, and I wanted to explore it.”“
article & interview with the filmmaker by Naman Ramachandran for Variety
„Die Kehrseite der Liebe zum Kino beleuchtet ein nepalesisches Filmemacherpaar in „Four Nights“, der im Wettbewerb der Berlinale Shorts läuft. Kastenunterschiede konnte das Paar im Film wie im echten Leben überwinden, aber trotz Festivalerfolgen mit Langfilmformaten leben sie unter schwierigen finanziellen Verhältnissen und hangeln sich von Förderung zu Förderung. Und das stellt die Liebe auf die Probe.“
review & interview with the filmmaker and actress by Olivera Tornau for arte TV
„Four Nights“ von Deepak Rauniyar erzählt von der prekären Existenz von Filmschaffenden. Ein junges Paar, das über beschränkte finanzielle Mittel verfügt, schneidet an seinem aktuellen Film und hofft auf die Festivalsaison – nicht zuletzt auf die Berlinale.“
mention by Hanno Rehlinger for Der Tagesspiegel
„la coproducción Estados Unidos/México y Nepal „Four Nights“, del aclamado cineasta nepalí Deepak Rauniyar.“
mention by Eva Usi for DW (Deutsche Welle)
„Four Nights“ is a drama based on Rauniyar & Magrati’s experiences after they left their native Nepal to settle in the United States in search for better professional oportunities, and it adresses more than just one issue regarding the immigration, race and class. […] The film also speaks about the discrepancy between a brief recognition of one’s artistic work and the life between film festivals filled with financial insecurity and often humiliating, but pressing compromises. […] „Four Nights“ is a forceful film crafted with heart and wit, and Rauniyar returns with another gem after his critically acclaimed long feature films White Sun (2016, Venice) and Highway (2012, Berlinale/ Locarno).“
review by Marina D. Richter for Ubiquarian
„[…] In just a quarter of an hour he manages to paint a relationship between two people, essentially himself and his wife and creative partner Asha Magrati, working through themes as diverse as gender roles, immigration, feeling at home, sacrifice, and filmmaking itself. Confined for most of this short runtime to a single apartment, Rauniyar manages space and time using a tight script and strong directorial choices to set up a lived-in slice of life on the edge of indie filmmaking. […]“
long review by Marc van de Klashorst for International Cinephile Society
„a deeply moving short on a Nepali couple coping with job challenges and marital insecurities in the US.“
mention by Meenakshi Shedde for mid-day
„Rauniyar said this film spotlights the struggles and challenges filmmakers face, including finding the funding and time for their projects, as well as issues of racism and classism.“
article by Cheril Lee for WHQR
„Die Kamera ist ruhig. Gedreht wurde nur in Innenräumen. Das muss nicht an der Zeit liegen. Man denkt ja immer gleich an die erschwerten Produktionsbedingungen in Zeiten der Pandemie. Die Beschränkung auf die Innenräume zeigt vielmehr, dass die beiden in einem Raum leben, in dem sie gemeinsam ohne die Welt und die Anforderungen da draußen leben können. Intimität und Unversehrtheit, ein Rückzugsort genauso wie ein Arbeitsort und ein Ort der beiden gehört.“
article by Elisabeth Nagy for Riecks Film Kritiken
„Finalmente, en Berlinale Shorts participa Four Nights, de Deepak Rauniyar, coproducción de Estados Unidos y Nepal que narra la historia de dos nepalíes que llegan al primero de estos países en pos de lograr sus sueños como creadores de cine.“
mention by Alia Lira Hartmann for LaJornada
„Otra película que se presenta en Generation Kplus es Alma y Paz, de Cris Gris. También compiten las coproducciones Beba (en la sección Generation 14plus) y el corto Four Nights (en Berlinale Shorts).“
mention on elVigia
„en la sección de cortometrajes “Four Nights” de Deepak Rauniyar, una coproducción de México, Estados Unidos y Nepal, sobre dos inmigrantes nepalíes que se mudan a Estados Unidos con el sueño de ser cineastas.“
mention on Independent en Español
find updates on „Four Nights“ on letterboxd
Find interviews with the director here.
Photo © Dorothea Tuch
Berlinale Shorts 