IFFK 2013 : An Experience

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Participating in this year’s IFFK for me was an experience beyond compare. Being a movie buff it is with some embarrassment that I confess that this was my first IFFK. As with any other first experiences I found myself woefully unprepared in the beginning.  I did not register on time. By the time I realized that no one is going to show up at my door step with a VIP pass for IFFK, it was too late and the registrations were closed. 

THE HUNT: LOSS OF INNOCENCE

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"The Hunt" is an undaunted drama from Danish director Thomas Vinterberg which dissects the human nature with microscopic precision.  Yes, it's a common tale that has been told in cinema before, but never so well. A man accused of a crime he did not commit, a judgmental society that leaves no stone unturned in ostracizing an innocent man and children who do not understand the enormity of their actions, the hunt is a glance into injustices prevalent in the society.

Megha Daka Thara : The Silver Lining…

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As a person who didn’t know about Ritwik Ghatak or his work two days ago the movie “Meghe Dhaka Tara” which is loosely based on the life of this film Maestro was a confusing experience. The movie tells the story of Nilkantha Bagchi an alter ego of Ritwik Ghat in this film and his struggles to come to grips with changing times. 

Parviz : The late coming of age

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Parviz on the outset has a promising premise, Parvis, a fifty-year-old man who has lived his entire life with his father kicked out from his home, as his father decides to remarry. A plot filled with possibilities that could have turned into a very engaging move of self discovery and realization but falls short because of its slow paced narrative.

LUCIA : Unending Dreams

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Being a fan of movies like Inception, Prestige, Shutter Island and Fight Club movies that come under the genre of psychological thriller it came as no surprise to me that I thoroughly enjoyed LUCIA. The first public funded movie in Kannada Lucia is one of those rare gems that shows that Indian Cinema in not behind in the mind bender movie category.

Television: The Changing Times

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When television was first invented there might have been some who believed it was the bringer of changing times while some viewed it as an enemy to be vanquished. Television by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a take on the latter category. But in his version television is not the enemy per say but it is symbolic of the true enemy that is the changing times…. Time and Tide waits for no man, yet that doesn’t stop us from trying to delay it. The film focuses on the hilarious attempts of its characters to do the same. 

Capturing dad: More than a photograph

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Once I had the opportunity to see a horror movie called”The Others” which dealt with the prospect of people who don’t know that they have passed on. The reason that I am bringing this up here is because one of the things that stuck with me after watching the movie was an unusual custom portrayed that involved taking pictures of the dead so as to guard their souls. So when I read the plot synopsis of this film and knowing that it is Japanese (they make the best horror movies) I was under the impression that I was in for a horror treat. Imagine my surprise when I saw a movie with a theme like this being all sunshine and rainbows.

Tang Wong: Dance of beliefs

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There are times in a person’s life they wish that a miracle could happen. That you just wave a magic wand and everything you desire becomes real. It is this very same wish that ultimately leads us to believe in superstitions, good luck charms and horoscopes. We are always striving to find short cuts in life. Tang Wong  by Kongdej Jaturanrasmee tries to express this need to believe in miracles and customs. 

Hives: Busy as a Bee

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Albert Einstein once said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left." A conclusion drawn from the fact that there will no more pollinating agents left in the world for it to go on but the inference that can be drawn from the premise of this film is something different. 

The Rocket: Sky High

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As a feel good movie “The Rocket” hits all the right notes. It has an endearing protagonist who tries to overcome adversities and prove his worth both to himself and the people around him. A true underdog story with the least likely wins people’s heart. 

The Missing Picture: Silent Screams!!!

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When it comes to history there is no truth only Cinema.  The truth nevertheless is a missing piece as the director and writer Rith Panh implies through his documentary film “The Missing Picture”. Critically acclaimed in the Cannes and Jeruselem Film Festival the film is set in that era of Cambodian history dredged in the blood of millions