Screening of Das indische Grabmal (The Indian Tomb) 1959. Directed by Fritz Lang (in German with English subtitles) with introduction by Shelina Kurwa ’12, senior certificate student in the Visual Arts Program/Film Track.

Pre-screening reception at 8:30 PM with screening beginning at 8:45 PM in East Pyne Hall 010.

Synopsis

Das indische Grabmal is the second half of what has come to be referred to as Lang’s “Indian epic,” a 3-hour-plus film split in two parts, consisting of, Der Tiger von Eschnapur and its sequel,  Das indische Grabmal. Fritz Lang returned to Germany on the eve of the 1960s to direct this enchanted penultimate work, which proved to be one of the most popular successes Lang was to experience in his native land.

A German architect (Paul Hubschmid) is commissioned by an Indian maharaja (Walter Reyer)  to come build new hospitals and schools in the kingdom of Eschnapur. On the way to Eschnapur, Harald meets and falls in love with the beautiful temple dancer, Sitha (Debra Paget), whom the Maharaja hopes to marry. In order to escape the Maharaja’s jealous rage, the lovers flee into the desert. Meanwhile, the Maharaja’s brother (René Deltgen) plots to take over the kingdom, and rallies the priests and soldiers to help him seize the throne. In order to leave Eschnapur with their lives, the two lovers find they must escape both the jealous pursuit of one brother and the political scheming of the other.