John & Jane Toll-Free

NEW DOCS

John & Jane Toll-Free is a fascinating look inside outsourced call centers in Mumbai and the desires and fantasies of the workers who answer your calls. Taking on American names like Nicky, Naomi, and Glen, these new members of the global white-collar class work night shifts selling everything from insurance to pancake molds. Shot in rich 35mm, the style is more akin to fiction than traditional documentary. This unorthodox stylistic choice adds to a sense of dislocation that permeates these workers’ lives, unmoored from their culture and their families. The story masterfully segues among characters and evolves into a surreal meditation on the pursuit of happiness. Slowly becoming John and Jane, the average American consumer, these workers evidence no trace of India as they strive for a future that can perhaps be best described as disturbingly blonde.  KH

Director

Ashim Ahluwalia

Producers

Shumona Goel, Ashim Ahluwalia

Release Year

2005

Festival Year

2006

Country

India

Run Time

77 minutes