DESCENT: A movement film

The Artivist's Studio and Lion Party Films present “Descent,” a Movement Film.

“Descent” follows the story of K, a former asylum client of creator Anjali Mehta’s who was separated from her daughter upon arriving in the United States. Like so many other adults seeking asylum, the loss of her child at the hands of immigration authorities led K into a downward spiral — one that eventually manifested as schizophrenia. Unable to receive the care she needed, K fell deeper and deeper into despair. Unfortunately, the K that ended up before an asylum judge was not the fighter her lawyers knew her to be, and she was deported without her daughter. In Descent, Anjali attempts to capture K's journey upon arriving in the U.S., using her ghungroo (bells) — so inextricably tied to one's identity as a dancer — to symbolize K's child.

The coronavirus outbreak has only expedited the removal of many young children and their parents. You can find more resources from immigration advocates, along with opportunities for you to donate and support their work, at the following site: www.theartiviststudio.com/immigrationresources

The Artivist's Studio, founded by Anjali Mehta, is a production company that formally fuses her identities as a dancer and a legal advocate, through which she hopes to humanize the experiences of those facing grave injustice — whose stories have often left deep wounds on her own heart.

Lion Party Films is a production company run entirely by South Asian women at the intersection of various art forms. Through dance, comedy, and traditional narratives, LPF prioritizes storytelling above all, sharing the unique artistic voices of our collaborators and their identities.

Music in this video:
“Beat of Passion (Title Music)” Taal, 1999, A. R. Rahman
© TIPS Zee Music Company
This piece was created to tell K's story and raise awareness about the ongoing immigration and family separation crisis in the United States. No copyright infringement is intended.

Story & Concept: Anjali Mehta
Direction: Anjali Mehta & Proma Khosla
Cinematography & Editing: Raashi Desai