THE GOLDEN THREAD

On the outskirts of Kolkata, the banks of the Hooghly River are lined with huge factories - some still in operation, others left to decay. West Bengal's 150-year-old jute industry was nearly displaced by the introduction of plastic, but is now experiencing renewed interest due to the golden fiber's eco-friendly properties. In precisely composed shots, Nishtha Jain shows the last factories, follows the entire production chain from cutting the reeds to weaving and takes an empathetic look at the individual stories of the workers.