The Bengal Files

What’s it about?

An Indian CBI officer is haunted by his family’s past as he investigates a journalist’s disappearance in Bengal.

The facts 

• Directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri
• Hindi, Bengali and English languages
• Runtime: 202 minutes

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

Graphic violence and cruelty 

This film contains strong and frequent violence, which includes characters being beaten, stabbed, slashed, shot, and set on fire. Often, a lot of blood and injury details are shown, which are sometimes very gruesome.

The strongest moments include: 

• A large cleaver is lodged in a man’s head. 
• A large barn filled with people is set on fire. People on fire attempt to escape the building by jumping from high windows.
• A fleeing child is shot in the back, with a small amount of blood splatter shown.
• A man’s head is crushed with a manhole cover.
• A man is decapitated with a machete, and his severed head is held aloft as a trophy.
• A man’s body is gruesomely torn vertically in half. 
• A man is lifted off the ground by his neck and slowly choked to death.

Sexual violence themes

Themes of sexual violence may be upsetting for viewers, including the following:

• Sexual violence is implied when a woman is thrown on a bed by a group of men who have violently invaded a home. 
• It is also strongly threatened when a woman is jostled by a large mob of men. The back of her sari blouse is torn off during the assault. 
• Rape and sexual exploitation are mentioned, briefly discussed, or implied in other scenes.

Helplines:

Some themes, such as sexual violence, could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen, please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• Women’s Refuge
• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?