Take Me To The River is a documentary film of the Maha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival and pilgrimage which was the largest gathering in the history of the world. The film documents the event by immersing you in the midst of the celebration. Experience a roller coaster of emotions as obscurity and clarity flow across the crowded and dusty flood plain of Ganges and Yamuna Rivers. Through misty dawns, crowded streets, peaceful moments and chaotic sprints to the river, you’ll journey into the Sangam, the physical and spiritual heart of the “Mela (festival)” where sins are cleansed, bathers can escape infinite karmic cycles and world peace is possible. You’ll meet Swamis from the largest and most prestigious Hindu holy orders, ascetic naga babas, boatmen, policemen and pilgrims. While interviews provide a narrative backbone for the film, Take Me To The River offers more than an analytical portrait of the Kumbh Mela. Shot in Super 16mm film with music recorded exclusively at the festival, the blatant premises and subtle nuances of the Maha Kumbh Mela come alive with a striking visual intensity. While uncovering the Mela’s historical origins, examining the importance of ritual and searching for personal redemption, “Take Me To The River” ultimately conveys the essence of the Mela experience.
—Casey Meade