By Anya Hosie, First Year, English and Spanish
The Cycle of Love (2026) reached UK cinemas last month and this documentary is nothing short of heartwarming and tearjerking. In a digital world that dreams of yearning men like Mr Darcy and Instagram-able declarations of love, The Cycle of Love reminds us that the purest form of love can transcend any barriers and is not only limited to the silver screen.
The film follows P.K. Mahanandia, an Indian Dalit destined for more than the deck of cards life dealt him, as he meets Lotta von Schedvin, a Swedish tourist, in 1975 India. Drawn together by P.K.’s street portraits, the two become compelled by one another but Lotta’s return home separates the two lovers. With no money for a plane ticket, P.K. sets off to cycle 6,000 miles to be reunited with her in Sweden - a true romantic in every sense of the word.
Narrated by Mahanadia and von Schedvin themselves, the former’s quest for love becomes fairytale-like and he retells it as such. His charming demeanour makes the film all the more uplifting and shows us just how he stayed so resilient and determined in his journey. Director Orlando von Einsiedel wants us to connect with Mahanadia’s past and what better way to do that than with the man himself? Instead of brushing the pain of his upbringing as an ‘untouchable’ in India’s hierarchy under the carpet, von Einsiedel brings it to light in a beautifully coherent and profoundly understanding way. Mahanadia and von Schedvin’s love blossomed from her seeing him for who he was, not for the life he was confined to leading.
The documentary also touches on the idea of fate, as Mahanadia believed he was destined to be with someone just like von Schedvin. This may seem far-fetched from a modern point of view but, in 1970s India, a call from destiny was enough to set a plan in motion almost imminently. By 1977, the couple had exchanged many a love letter, shown through von Schedvin's emotional retelling alongside the dramatisation and that was enough for Mahanadia to set out along the same hippie trail she took to reach India.
Whilst his dedication to be with von Schedvin frames most of the film, Mahanadia's friendships with the strangers he encounters along the way makes this a documentary on human connection, reminding us of the power of empathy and kindness in times of need. This connection in turn comes from seeing each other outside of the labels society granted them, whilst also connecting through shared traumas and discussions of discrimination. However, the documentary avoids explictly expanding on the hardships Mahanadia faced, whether it be his journey through the harsh Iranian desert or the sorrowful tales from his childhood. The film instead depicts a tale of triumph over tribulations and leaves audiences with a bittersweet feeling.
Unbeknownst to audiences, von Einsiedel relied on improvisation whilst recreating the journey, using the organic willingness to help a human in need (and in love) as just another easter egg to encourage audiences to continue spreading love in a world so full of hate. These unprompted interactions allow the tale to flow naturally, void of any insincerity, and instead create a sincere environment of acceptance and understanding. With only two professional actors hired to play the younger versions of Mahanadia and von Schedvin (Chirag Lobo and Mina Dale respectively), high levels of risk surrounded the making of the docudrama. However, in a story where faith and love prevail, von Einsiedel in turn drew his inspiration for the documentary from his past works and worked alongside Mahanadia to capture the true authenticity of the love story.
Leanor Allon
So while we can appreciate one man's devotion to his love and the fact that the main message behind the documentary encourages us to love everyone, it most importantly tells the audience to stay true to themselves. We become easily enchanted by both Mahanadia's storytelling and Lobo’s magical reenactment of the journey to learn how, in a world full of hate, love truly can conquer all.
Featured image: IMDb / The Cycle of Love
Have you caught The Cycle of Love yet?
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