Gladiators on Wheels

A documentary short film following stunt drivers in a touring circus in rural India

Year

2018

Client

JBN Originals

Project Type

Documentary Short

Role

End-to-end Film Production

Documentary Short —

Riding the Wheel of Death

"Gladiators on Wheels" is an experimental documentary short made over a one day shoot in West Bengal's Poush Mela, where director JIJO grew up as a child in awe of these stunt riders.

Returning to visit them, he discovered their story for the first time. Interviews were edited and adapted collaboratively with the riders and voiced by local actors.

In remote rural festivals all around India the 'Well of Death' has been a long-notorious attraction - where for £0.50p per ticket, you can see stunt drivers rocket in circles across 60ft walls, throwing caution to the wind and defying gravity.

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