Before Midnight — A Portrait of India on Film, 1899–1947

At the stroke of midnight on 14/15 August 1947 India finally achieved independence from Britain. Sixty years on, Before Midnight offers access to an unparalleled collection of films from the BFI National Archive exploring life in India during the early 20th century.

Some of the most potent records are to be found in the home movies — many of which are being made publicly available for the first time. The Maharajah of Jodhpur's home movies provide an epic portrait of princely power in the 1940s, whilst those of the Craster family offer an intimate picture of British family life.

Featuring over 25 films and extracts the programme takes us on a journey from the Northwest Frontier to Lahore, Rajasthan to Darjeeling and beyond. Before Midnight offers an unrivalled portrait of how lives — both Indian and British — were led across the Subcontinent.