Blood at the Root

Logline
In present day New York, a South Asian high schooler working at a barbershop secretly dates a veteran’s daughter. When the veteran discovers their relationship, he rallies a mob against the teen. Does the boy save the day and get the girl?

Core Themes
Mob Mentality, Interracial Relationships, Female Victimhood

Story Summary
The story follows Himmat, a South Asian high schooler in New York, whose secret romance with Julia, a white veteran’s daughter, sparks a crisis when exposed. As John, the veteran, responds by whipping up a fearful, vengeful mob, the narrative unflinchingly explores how groupthink and collective rage can rapidly turn deadly—revealing the destructive force of mob mentality. The pair’s interracial relationship becomes a flashpoint for social prejudice, challenging the boundaries of love in a hostile environment marked by suspicion and cultural division.​

As tension escalates, Julia’s vulnerability grows: she faces shaming, silencing, and the threat of violence from those meant to protect her, portraying the unique dangers and traumas of female victimhood in the crossfire of communal outrage. The story exposes how community fears can be projected onto women, making them scapegoats for social anxieties while they struggle to own their voices and choices. Ultimately asking the tough question: to what extent is that struggle justified in the face of the truth?

Director's Statement

When I moved to the United States I was suddenly aware that I am both woman and Indian. Intersectional identities affect each other and I found that I could explore these through the framework of the question: how do a south asian man and white woman navigate social hierarchies in American society?  I was then drawn to explore my inner conflict as a south asian woman in the United States, and understand my vulnerabilities through this film with the hopes of helping someone understand themselves better.

Stills from the Film

Budget Breakdown
 

How you can help
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