A moving film evening that broadens one’s horizons

The Ev.-luth. Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM), the Nordstadt Parish in Hanover and the German-Indian Society presented "The Braid" as an open-air cinema screening.

On this August evening, looking beyond one’s own horizons was no difficult task. Mild summer air, a large screen, a welcoming church and a moving film were the ingredients for the ELM Summer Cinema in Hanover 2026.

Around 120 people gathered late in the evening beneath the lime tree on the forecourt of the Lutherkirche in Nordstadt. Thekla Haß, youth secretary at the ELM, hosted the evening on behalf of Ute Penzel, the India specialist who was unable to attend, and introduced the topic: “The situation for women in India remains difficult. On the one hand, there are formal equality laws; on the other, however, there are also deeply entrenched patriarchal structures. Above all, this leads to gender-based violence, social disadvantage and economic barriers in women’s everyday lives.” Further information was provided on how the ELM’s partner churches in India are working on behalf of girls and women, including through special programmes, nurseries, schools, hostels and training centres for girls and women, many of whom also come from the Dalit community (“untouchables”) and therefore often face even greater difficulties.

This year, alongside the Nordstadt parish and the solar-powered travelling cinema “Cinema del Sol”, the German-Indian Society also took part as a partner organisation. Their shared aim: to foster international networking, encounters and solidarity, and to make these concepts tangible. The Indian feature film *The Braid*, based on the book of the same name, is a gripping kaleidoscope of three women and their desire for freedom. In northern India, a woman from the ‘Untouchables’ (Dalits) flees her village community. She wants to give her daughter a better life. In Italy, a young woman is trying to save her father’s wig-making workshop, which is heavily in debt. In Canada, a lawyer is facing a serious illness.

Different countries and cultural contexts, yet all intertwined. Exciting, harrowing, moving and entertaining, the film transported the audience to other worlds.

Long applause and plenty of positive feedback filled the organising team with gratitude for a successful evening at the cinema. For “Cinema del Sol”, the open-air cinema season is only just getting started. The ELM will certainly be taking part again next year.