I choose what I watch very carefully. You’d think it would be quite the opposite for someone who writes about film but honestly, life is too short to watch what doesn’t grab me at “hello!”
Antshi von Moos’s debut documentary short ‘Brother, Move On’ is one of those unmissable films which possesses the right appeal, even on paper. The story of a Delhi woman who drives a taxi at night, catering to an all-female clientele to make sure they get home safely, made up the perfect storm of place, leading character and premise to secure I’d yearn to watch it. That it is a real story, told with kindness and a deep understanding of the subject matter at hand, is just icing on the cake.
So, I’ll admit I’m seldom wrong in my choices, because I choose in a manner tailored to my whims. Yet, ‘Brother, Move On’ is so perfect and honest that when it ended, I yearned to watch more. In fact, when I got to interview von Moos I asked her if she’s planning on making a feature. You’ll have to read on to find out her answer.
The film streams for free as part of the terrific line-up of the 29th Brooklyn Film Festival, from May 29th to June 7th. You’ll find everything you need on their website and make sure you tune in on opening night as they have some special things planned.
Following is my interview with Antshi von Moos, which we conducted over email. In it she talks about the advantages, yes you read that right, of being a woman filmmaker, her upcoming “bloody” project which is not a horror film and how she chose her wonderful leading heroine, Geeta.
Filmmaker Antshi von Moos inside Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station
How did you come up with the idea for this documentary? When did you decide this was your subject?
Antshi von Moos: During an six months artist in residency program in Varanasi, India in 2012 Rangoli Agarwal (cinematographer on ‘Brother, Move On’) and I had the idea of making a short documentary about a female Indian taxi driver. At this time, the first company only employing women as taxi drivers had opened in Mumbai. But the company had just started and somehow it was too early, so I went home to Switzerland without making the movie. At home, I started to research and found out that I could tell so much about a society with this story — in so many layers. I kept on walking around with the idea of making the movie for many years and in 2016 I called Rangoli and told her we should do it. Rangoli answered: “OK, come”.
So in 2017 I went to Mumbai.
As an audience member, I finished watching your short film and felt like I wanted to see a feature on this woman, her taxi and her clients. Do you have any plans to make the film into a feature?
Antshi von Moos: Geeta has completed her Master's degree in Social Work, is still working as a taxi driver and now speaks English. She just keeps going! And she is an inspiration for many women in her area who want to know where she learned to drive. I would love to make a feature with Geeta. I would like to visit Geeta several times over a long period of time and follow her with the camera. Thank you for asking me this question, it is very empowering.
What drew you to India in the first place? And particularly Delhi, which isn’t the friendliest of cities for women…
Antshi von Moos: The first time I was in Delhi was in 2010, as part of a six months journey in Asia with Valérie Sauvin and I returned to the country several times. In 2017 I flew again with Valérie, who did the interviews in ‘Brother, Move On’, to Mumbai and was looking for a female taxi driver in Mumbai. After a two-months search in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kerala I realized that I needed to go to Delhi — where female taxi drivers are urgently needed. I wanted to find out how women can move freely in Delhi, where it is very unsafe at night. After 9 p.m. there are hardly any women on the streets. After some research I came across Geeta. She only takes women in her taxi, that is safer for her and also for her passengers. At the same time, the fact that she is a taxi driver is a huge provocation. There are about 50 women taxi drivers in Delhi and about 70,000 male taxi drivers. Geeta has turned the traditional role model upside down.
At first, I didn't want to go to Delhi because of the harsh treatment [of women]. But there was no way around it. And so I ended up in Delhi after all. I was worried whether we could film in Delhi at night as an all-women crew. But as soon as I found Geeta and drove with her for the first time I felt very safe with her. I think it was good that I did not understand everything she told Rangoli in Hindi!
Your first name is quite unusual. Is there a story behind it?
Antshi von Moos: In Switzerland Angi is pronounced as Anschi. So in school I started to write my name with different letters so that it sounds like Anschi but appears differently. I still do it this way and so it became my artist name.
In filmmaking, as I do in journalism, you must experience a lot of situations where being a woman is not the most advantageous position. But when do you feel like it works to your advantage?
Antshi von Moos: For the shoot in Delhi I put together an all-female film crew. Rangoli Agarwal as cinematographer and translator; Valérie Sauvin: for interviews; Geeta: of course driving her taxi, and me — directing, second camera and sound). We four women drove all over Delhi at night together in Geeta’s taxi. This created a close relationship between us. Geeta could only tell us her story because we were only women among us in her taxi.
What are the lessons we can learn from Geeta, as women but also as human beings?
Antshi von Moos: With her taxi service, Geeta softens the deeply rooted patriarchal structures. Because it is very unusual for a woman to drive a taxi at night in India. She contributes to the transformation of a fairer society and can be an inspiration for many people in India, Switzerland or elsewhere.
What were the challenges of shooting this film?
Antshi von Moos: The unsafe roads at night in Delhi and the language. I was looking for a female taxi driver who spoke English, but found no one. So Rangoli became a translator. I edited the film myself. My knowledge of Hindi is limited and it took me some time not to only rely on the subtitles, because often the really important things are told between the lines.
What are you working on now?
Antshi von Moos: I am working on a short documentary called “Free Bleeding”. Free Bleeding refers to bleeding during menstruation without hygienic products such as tampons, sanitary pads, cups etc. Free Bleeding is practiced for various reasons. Conventional tampons contain bleaching agents which are directly delivered to the mucous membrane of the body during use. Bandages and tampons produce a lot of waste. The aim is to lure menstruation out of the taboo zone and find a more relaxed way of dealing with it. If there is a free bleeder out here please contact me.
And finally, what would you like audiences to take away from this film?
Antshi von Moos: With this short film I would like to show a story that encourages people to go their own way. The fact that women can move freely and with self-determination in a city is the first step towards a more equal society.