The Lesson (Canada, 2007)
THE LESSON is Punam Kumar Gill's docu-drama about her father, Ramesh Kumar.
Ramesh is a rare example of a man who chooses to live with minimal things and enjoys his peace of mind. The Lesson also reveals how, 25 years ago, Ramesh started a driving school in Mill Woods, an ethnic and South Asian neighborhood in Edmonton, and helped build his community by teaching new immigrants how to drive.
The Lesson won the Grand Prize at the Ming Short Film Festival, was nominated for BEST SHORT FILM by the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association, and has screened in Kerala, Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, and throughout schools in Calgary.
CLICK HERE for screening information and other NEWS!
Docu-drama/Bio-pic, short
12 minutes, Punjabi with English subtitles
CAST: Ramesh Kumar, Geeta Tandon, Kulmeet Sangha, Mariam Lafond
Storyboard drawings by Rebecca Rowley
 | The film is about the true story of Ramesh Kumar, who, since opening Punam Driving School twenty-three years ago in Mill Woods, has taught over 5000 students. His students are mostly new immigrants from India and Pakistan, and he offers driving lessons in three languages: English, Punjabi and Hindi. Against all business school and textbook teaching, Ramesh has never advertised or even used a computer. His business success is entirely related to his innate ability to teach in simple terms, and from word-of-mouth referrals. Ramesh’s only daughter, Punam, is the filmmaker, and THE LESSON is her first film. |
