Showing posts with label MAMI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MAMI. Show all posts
The Ultimate Must Watch List - Part II | 19th Mumbai Film Festival 2017
220 films from 49 countries, filmed in 51 languages. The festival has begun and we are back at doing what we do best - bringing you tons of updates and reports from the ongoing 19th Mumbai Film Festival. The list of best films can be endless. Still, we thought of working on a two part series that will give you a round up of some super interesting films at the festival this year. So, go register and grab your seats to witness the magic of world cinema unfurl! Here's our second part in the ultimate must watch list. Create your lists, everybody!
Loveless (Nelyubov)
A couple going through a divorce team up to find their son, who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments.
Directed by: Andrei Zvyagintsev
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - Zvyagintsev’s Loveless has earned critical acclaim. The film was awarded Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and was also the Russian entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. This Russian drama definitely looks poignant.
Mother
A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. The film is a riveting psychological thriller about love, devotion and sacrifice.
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - Darren Aronofsky’s Mother is the much talked about film this year, thanks to its stellar cast and a thrilling plot. Aronofsky is known for his surreal, disturbing films. So, we are sure this one too won’t disappoint us.
Manifesto
Acclaimed visual artist Julian Rosefeldt brings us Manifesto, which features two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett in 13 distinct, must-see vignettes, that incorporate timeless manifestos from 20th century art movements. From anchorwoman to homeless man, Pop Art to Dogma 95; Blanchett's performance pays homage to the moving tradition of artist manifestos.
Directed by: Julian Rosefeldt
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - A powerful actress. 13 distinct characters. One film! Well, that's the best thing ever. We surely feel this one deserves a place in this list.
I am not a Witch
Welsh-Zambian director Rungano Nyoni's first feature tells a story of eight-year-old Shula, who is accused of witchcraft. Officials take advantage. send her to state custody and later, exile her to a witch camp.
Directed by: Rungano Nyoni
Section: International Competition
#DancebeeApproved - Nyoni's first feature film looks promising, and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year under 'Director's Fortnight'. The director participated in the Cannes’ Cine Fondation Residency as a major talent in 2013.
Ajji
This year, the India Gold section has a great lineup of films. However, for us, one of them stands out from the rest, and that is film maker Devashish Makhija’s - Ajji. This revengeful thriller has a 65 yr old grandmother as the central character, who decides to take revenge against the rapist of her nine-year-old grand daughter - Manda.
Directed by: Devashish Makhija
Section: India Gold
#DancebeeApproved - The trailer is gripping and dark spiking the curiosity and interest to not miss this film for anything. Ajji premiered at the Busan International Film Festival last month and if the trailer is anything to go by, this one will definitely leave you awestruck.
What Will People Say?
Nisha (16) lives a double life. At home, she is the perfect Pakistani girl with a family life. When out with her friends, she is a normal Norwegian teenager. Things take a wrong turn and Nisha lands in Pakistan, where she is forced to adapt her parents' culture.
Directed by: Iram Haq
Section: Discovering India
The Ultimate Must Watch List - Part I | 19th Mumbai Film Festival 2017
It’s back! The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival 2017 is almost here and right now, every cinephile is busy chalking their respective schedules to ensure that they don’t miss any of the best films that will be screened this year. The euphoria to book the films a day in advance, the crazy excitement to shuffle screens and the fascinating conversations in the queue outside the auditorium makes this festival one of the most important event in a cinephile’s calendar.
220 films from 49 countries, filmed in 51 languages and only 4 films a day. Needless to say, there is a lot of planning required or else, it just gets crazy during the festival. So, in order to make your life a tad bit easy, we have listed some of the films, which you can watch out for. Take out your diaries and jot down the list already!
220 films from 49 countries, filmed in 51 languages and only 4 films a day. Needless to say, there is a lot of planning required or else, it just gets crazy during the festival. So, in order to make your life a tad bit easy, we have listed some of the films, which you can watch out for. Take out your diaries and jot down the list already!
The Square
Christian, the curator of a contemporary art museum, hires a public relations team to build some buzz for his renowned Swedish museum. The team creates an unexpected campaign, and the response sends Christian as well as the museum into an existential crisis.
Directed by: Ruben Östlund
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - Palms D’or winner at Cannes this year, The Square a Swedish satirical drama has a thought provoking storyline and will be an interesting watch.
24 Frames
It marks the final film of late Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, whose inspiration to make this experimental film was all about his curiosity to know about four and half minutes of what he imagined might have taken place before or after each image that he had captured.
Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - Kiarostami took 24 still images and used digital technology to expand each one of them into a flowing, live-action tableau. This sole thought makes the film inquisitive and thus, a must watch!
City of Ghosts
This documentary by Academy Award nominated and Emmy winner filmmaker Matthew Heineman looks promising and intense as the synopsis definitely gives a grave picture of a group of brave citizen journalists as they face the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile, risking their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today ISIS.
Directed by: Matthew Heineman
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - The film premiered at the Sundance Festival earlier this year, and was acquired by Amazon. With rave reviews and incredible buzz, City of Ghosts makes for a must watch.
Devil's Freedom (La Libertad Del Diablo)
Mexican director Everardo González’s documentary - Devil’s Freedom, explores how fear and uncertainty have penetrated every level of Mexican society asking what meaning is to be found in this violence and the profound fear it engenders.
Directed by - Everardo Gonźalez
Section - World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - This mexican psychological documentary portrays personal stories giving an insight into the deepest fears and the most obscure traits of the human psyche. This will surely be an eye opener.
Stay tuned for Part II, where we discuss more interesting films!
Have you created a 'must watch' list for MAMI?Share your favourites! Join the conversation atTwitter | Facebook | Snapchat | Instagram | YouTube
24 Frames
It marks the final film of late Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, whose inspiration to make this experimental film was all about his curiosity to know about four and half minutes of what he imagined might have taken place before or after each image that he had captured.
Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - Kiarostami took 24 still images and used digital technology to expand each one of them into a flowing, live-action tableau. This sole thought makes the film inquisitive and thus, a must watch!
City of Ghosts
This documentary by Academy Award nominated and Emmy winner filmmaker Matthew Heineman looks promising and intense as the synopsis definitely gives a grave picture of a group of brave citizen journalists as they face the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile, risking their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today ISIS.
Directed by: Matthew Heineman
Section: World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - The film premiered at the Sundance Festival earlier this year, and was acquired by Amazon. With rave reviews and incredible buzz, City of Ghosts makes for a must watch.
Devil's Freedom (La Libertad Del Diablo)
Mexican director Everardo González’s documentary - Devil’s Freedom, explores how fear and uncertainty have penetrated every level of Mexican society asking what meaning is to be found in this violence and the profound fear it engenders.
Directed by - Everardo Gonźalez
Section - World Cinema
#DancebeeApproved - This mexican psychological documentary portrays personal stories giving an insight into the deepest fears and the most obscure traits of the human psyche. This will surely be an eye opener.
Stay tuned for Part II, where we discuss more interesting films!
Have you created a 'must watch' list for MAMI?Share your favourites! Join the conversation atTwitter | Facebook | Snapchat | Instagram | YouTube
The MAMI Diaries (Day 2 & 3) | Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016
You've read all about our first day at the festival in an earlier post. After a mad rush at the bookings, we finally managed to secure seats for our favourite picks during the weekend. Of course, we knew it wasn't gonna be easy and had to let go of some films, due to unavailability. Weekend at the cinemas saw a huge crowd. People were literally seen camping out and queuing up hours before the screening, just to ensure they catch up with their favourite film. Here's a round up of our weekend watch at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016.
Day 2 kickstarted with the most dark, unsettling, psychological-horror film, The Neon Demon. Certain visuals in the film were nicely crafted, but as the story progressed, it somehow made the breakfast (morning show, remember) churn in your tummy. After wrapping up some commitments in between, we got back to the cinemas to end our day with a fun, satirical Saudi Arabian film, Barakah meets Barakah. The theatre was packed, with people rushing to grab a preferred seat, and later, even sitting in the front row seats, to enjoy the film. Barakah meets Barakah was an irony of how the moral police in Saudi Arabia, and the whole society at large, is caged and deprived of freedom of expression, art and love.
When it's the MAMI week, even a Sunday is packed with schedules and day filled with other work commitments. For us, Day 3 was full of experimental cinema. We started off with the much anticipated French-German-Belgian psychological thriller - Elle. While the film had an interesting plot, it unfortunately could not hold our attention for long. Our afternoon pick certainly set the tone right. Swiss Army Man received a thunderous applause from the audience. The chemistry between the lead actors, Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe was spectacular, making the audience fall in love with their world. Our Sunday ended with Madly, a global anthology film with six stories of modern love. However, we personally felt it was full of loose ends and random stories. Definitely not worth the hype.
It's Day 4 at the cinema and we look forward to watching some good films. It also marks the premiere of 'Marathi Talkies', where four beautiful Marathi films will be showcased. Watch this space to know more about our day at the cinemas.
The MAMI Diaries (Day 01) - Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016 | #DancebeeatMAMI
Regulars at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016 know that once the festival kickstarts, life is never the same again for an entire week. A typical MAMI delegate's day starts as early 8 am, schedule in one hand and maybe, coffee in another. bookmyshow becomes a permanent bookmark on your desktop, as you log on to book a seat for your 'must watch' shows, scheduled for the next day (good ol' advance booking). All this, while secretly praying for availability. Of course, rest of the day is spent hopping from one screening (and cinema hall) to another, enjoying the magic of world cinema. For those familiar with the routine, these words may have made you smile. And we are quite sure, Day 01 was similar for most of you. Well, here's what it looked like for Team Dancebee.
For us, the day began with a lot of chaos. Technical errors delayed bookings for shows scheduled on Oct 22. However, 15 minutes later, things got normal. By 8:45 am, most shows were full. However, we were assured of 20% reservation for on-ground bookings at the venue, apart from the general queue. This, of course, came as a huge sight of relief to us. We packed our bags and head out to attend our respective commitments for the day. While Priya chose PVR Phoenix, Team Dancebee's Rasika picked PVR ECX.
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While we thought our worries were restricted to just the technical errors, there was more. At ECX, confusion led to chaos at most screenings. Delegates in the general line had to make do with front row seats only. There were arguments and hassles almost before every screening. It was like watching a film outside the audi. However, the situation at Phoenix was completely the opposite. Most afternoon screenings were empty, and the entire on-ground booking process was quite smooth. There was no chaos or argument of any sort. Cinephiles were spotted enjoying a chat or hot cuppa at the nearby Starbucks outlet, in between shows. Nobody rushed ahead of others, and the atmosphere was great.
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| (Top to Bottom) - Keith Mainland's Tower and Pankaj Johar's Cecilia |
While Priya had to miss her first screening for the day - I Called Him Morgan, due to unavoidable reasons, she caught up with Keith Mainland's documentary Tower, based on the University of Texas shootings in 1966. The film is a mix of rotoscopic animation and archival footage, which is predominately used to depict the series of events. It also includes interviews, including that of the witnesses, police among others. Pankaj Johar's Cecilia followed next, a documentary based on the crisis and confusion faced by Johar's house help Cecilia Hasda, after her daughter goes missing and becomes a victim of child trafficking. The film perfectly explores the poignant journey of Cecilia, the vicious circle of child trafficking and the ugly twists and turns that one has to face, in order to achieve justice in this country. Truly, an eye opener!
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| (Top to Bottom) - Certain Women and Wild |
For Rasika, the two films she watched on Day 1 revolved around strong and distinct characters. The story was like a background theme, and the characters stood out extensively. Certain Women explores a handful of intersecting lives and focuses on three women, who led a normal life, and are creating their own path in life, while living in a small town. Next, the German film - Wild, made the audience go speechless. The female protagonist (Lilith Stangenberg) took her performance to another level of wildness.
As the day came to an end, we got back to work and life, all ready to set our alarms for another early morning (and some mad rush for Sunday show bookings). In addition, we are looking forward to the much awaited Movie Mela, a two-day film extravaganza that has some fun sessions in store.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Snapchat | Instagram for live updates from the event or join the conversation with the hashtag #DancebeeatMAMI!
Text by: Priya Adivarekar, Rasika Pote
Compiled by: Priya Adivarekar
The Indian Cinema Treasure | Films to watch out for at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016
The 18th edition of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star, has 170+ films selected from all over the world. While we discussed our international favourites in a special series, we have also got several Indian films taking centre stage. This year, they have been distributed largely into three categories: India Gold, India Story and Discovering India. Also, not to forget, the 'Marathi Talkies' section, which also includes some remarkable films.
Like last year, this year too, an Indian Film - Konkana Sen Sharma’s directorial debut ‘A Death in the Gunj’ opens the festival at Royal Opera House in Mumbai. With Indian Films are all set to entertain the audiences at MAMI, we help you pick some of the best on the list. Don’t miss out on our Indian films, that have been made with a lot of hard word, determination and dedication, by our desi filmmakers.
Lipstick Under My Burkha (India Gold)
Director: Alankrita Shrivastava
The film weaves together life of one burqa-clad college girl, a young beautician, a mother of three and a 55-year-old widow who rediscovers her sexuality. The film is produced by Prakash Jha, while his assistant director Alankrita Shrivastava wears the director’s cap in this one. The film is packed with a renowned cast and is also going to premiere at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival 2016.
Autohead (India Gold)
Director: Rohit Mittal
The Autohead trailer has already driven most of the people insane and now, the film is all set to create some serious buzz at MAMI. This edgy documentary revolves around a film crew following a crazy rickshaw driver’s increasingly destructive adventures, across the suburbs of Mumbai. The film is directed, written by Rohit Mittal, who also stars in the film. Autohead was part of Hong Kong International Film Festival (the only Indian film selected there) and Sitges Film Festival in Spain.
Loev (India Gold)
Director: Sudhanshu Saria
LOEV is about a weekend between friends, where chances are missed, truths evaded and among all the stumbles, it shows how love unexpectedly prevails. Loev has travelled to more than 35 film festivals, including South By Southwest, BFI, Tallinn Black Nights (World Premiere), Tel Aviv International Film Festival (Audience Prize), Jeonju International Film Festival, Frameline among others. Actor Arfi Lamba, who was seen in films like Fukrey, has produced the film under his banner - Bombay Berlin film productions. The banner also has another film, The Road to Mandalay, that will be screened at the festival this year.
An Insignificant Man (Discovering India)
Directors: Khushboo Ranka, Vinay Shukla
This 100-minute film has been distilled from over 400 hours of behind-the-scene footage, shot over a course of two years, with a fly-on-the-wall approach. The film follows now Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi (Common Man’s) Party – an insurgent new political party, as they wield basic public issues like water, electricity, and graft against the country’s oldest and most powerful two political establishments. The film had its World premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and has been screened at BFI London Film Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and finally, will now have it's India Premiere at MAMI.
The Cinema Travellers (India Gold)
Directors: Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya
Directors: Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya
The only Indian feature-film to be selected at Cannes earlier this year is an enthralling portrait of the fast-fading journey of the ‘Traveling Cinemas’ of India. A benevolent showman, a shrewd exhibitor and a maverick projector mechanic bear a beautiful burden - to keep the last traveling cinemas of the world running. The film has also been screened at Sydney Film Festival - Australian Premiere, Toronto International Film Festival - North American Premiere, New York Film Festival - US Premiere, Busan International Film Festival - Asian Premiere.
Marathi Talkies: The Marathi Talkies section is screening last year’s hit compilation Bioscope, Rajesh Mapuskar’s family comedy Ventilator, Sachin Kundalkar’s joint-family generational drama Rajwade and Sons and Punarvasu Naik’s satirical thriller Vakratunda Mahakaaya.
Just a few hours to go, before cinephiles rush from one move hall to another, in order to witness some pure cinematic bliss. For those of you who still haven't registered, go get it done right away. You don't wanna miss these amazing films for anything.
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter & Snapchat as we bring you live updates, exciting buzz and lots of filmy stories from Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Join the conversation using #DancebeeatMAMI and if you are around, do come and say hi!
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter & Snapchat as we bring you live updates, exciting buzz and lots of filmy stories from Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Join the conversation using #DancebeeatMAMI and if you are around, do come and say hi!
Films to watch out for (Part I) | Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016
It’s that time of the year again. A weeklong film celebration close to every ardent cinema buff's heart. The time when we eat, sleep and talk films. Yes! We are talking about the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star. Every year, films from across borders, continents and cultures are screened at the festival, and film buffs are known to enjoy world cinema to their heart's content. The festival is currently in it's 18th edition, and this year too, the lineup of 170+ films is invigorating and eclectic. Honestly, we are super excited to bring you all the scoop and amazing updates from the festival, all week long. But, before we kickstart the festival, we've got you covered with a few special features. In a series of two posts, we present to you a list of top 10 international films which you shouldn't miss for anything! In part one, we discuss the first five movies from the list.
Under The Shadow - Iran
Director: Babak Anvari
This year, the After Dark section at MAMI has got some really spine chilling films, and one of them is Babak Anvari’s film ‘Under the Shadow’. The film has been under the spotlight, ever since it was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, back in January. It is also Britain’s official entry to the Oscars. The film is sure to give horror cinema fans a chance to lose their sleep, at least for a few nights.
Screening: Day 01, PVR ECX (Audi 1) at 9:15 pm (for more show timings, refer to the full schedule)
Personal Shopper - France
Director: Oliver Assayas
Another film from the After Dark section, which you should not miss! Oliver Assayas' Personal Shopper has Kristen Stewart playing Maureen, a young american in Paris who works as a personal shopper for a celebrity. The story revolves around a ghost story that takes place in the fashion underworld of Paris. Assayas also picked up the Best Director award at Cannes earlier this year.
Barakah Meets Barakah – Saudi Arabia
Director: Mahmoud Sabbagh
This film is considered to be the first ever Saudi Arabia’s rom-com exploring the relationship between a civil servant and a social media celebrity. It won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlinale, and has also been selected as the Saudi Arabian entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards.
Bacalaureat (Graduation) - Romania
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Master filmmaker Cristian Mungiu bagged the Best Director trophy at Cannes this year with this film. The plot revolves around a doctor and his efforts to help his 18-year-old daughter, who is on the verge of graduation and has a long-planned scholarship in mind. Mungiu's last film, ‘Beyond The Hills,’ won the best screenplay and actress award four years ago, at the Cannes film festival.
The Salesman - Iran
Director: Asghar Farhadi
This film is directed by Asghar Farhadi - highly acclaimed film maker, who had earlier helmed ‘A Separation’ and ‘The Past’. The Salesman is Iran’s official Oscar entry this year. It was also nominated for this year’s Palme d’Or. Actor Shahab Hosseini went on to win the Best Actor award, while Farhadi walked home with the Best Screenplay trophy at the Cannes. The film is a story of a young couple, who play the lead couple in a local rendition of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman'.
First Screening: Day 02, PVR Icon (Audi 2), 4:15 pm
The 16th Mumbai Film Festival | MAMI 2014
While we were busy with the routine hop-skip and jumping between one fashion week to another, we just didn't how realize that it's Mid - October. Well, for film buffs in the city, October means just one thing - Mumbai Film Festival. Yes, its that time of the year again when cinema aficionados are offered a delightful bouquet of world cinema, ranging from Russian, French, Japanese to Indian regional language films and more. Our rendezvous with World Cinema started on Day 1 at Cinemax Versova this year, but boy, did the election delay create a frenzy at the registration desk or what! Nevertheless, the going was good and we thankfully reached Screen 2 to witness the legendary Akira Kurosawa's magic unfold on screen, just in time.
No one can shoot a film with great aesthetics, harsh locations and flawless casting the way Kurosawa did. After all, his films were known to have expensive production requirements. Having seen some of his work including Throne of Blood, Rashomon, High and Low, Yojimbo among others (and being a self confessed fan), I was excited to watch his 1975 masterpiece, Dersu Uzala. A simple film based on the 1923 memoir (by the same name) penned by Vladimir Arsenyve, it explores the life of a Goldi hunter named Dersu Uzala, his knowledge of the wild, relationship with Captain Arseniev and more. The basic plot shows how those living in the wild were content with their lifestyle, until civilization took over and changed their life forever.
But what stayed with me were the beautiful moments brought to life on screen by Kurosawa and his team of actors. Maxim Munzuk as Uzala is simply delightful! His relationship with Arseniev, essayed beautifully by Yuri Gantman, might just make you shed a tear or bring a warm smile on your face. When Uzala realizes that he cannot hit the perfect aim anymore, he is devastated, and tries to hit the aim at his own glove, before realizing that something is indeed amiss. Kurosawa blends in an individual's struggle with old age with perfection. It also shows that merely assuming that a wild or village folk is an illiterate ain't fair. They may not go to a traditional school, but they memorize, grasp and learn from everything that they encounter in their daily life. Uzala does that too, and that's how his journey with Arseniev begins. Kurosawa indeed made my afternoon with this magical offering!
Moving from one maverick to another (and from Screen 2 to Screen 3), Kurosawa's Soviet and Japanese co-production venture was followed by a French documentary (albeit uniquely presented) titled Mr Leos CaraX. This melange of interviews, clips from his popular films like Boy Meets Girl, Les Amants du Pont-Neuf among others and anecdotes made for an interesting watch. It may not be an in-depth, insightful offering, but definitely proved to be a perfect window for those, who have never experienced his work in the past. Carax is not your usual film-maker, mind you! He is known for films with dream-like imagery, physical humour and dark romance.
Just as the closing credits of Mr. X rolled out, I got ready for another marvellous cinematic experience. This time, in my mother tongue - Marathi. I stood in a never-ending queue, to watch a Marathi film with film buffs (it was a full house) who were just as excited as I was. Maybe it was the popularity of Marathi cinema that drew them here, or perhaps the fact that this film had won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale earlier this year. There was something enchanting about the stills that we had all seen. And just when the film opened, we all witnessed a spectacular visual treat. Well, I shall discuss the film in detail in a separate post.
The film festival continued to keep me entertained with some spectacular films. Right from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg to Court, Siddhant to Chauranga, Fever to Barf, it was like traveling through different countries with the help of an eclectic mix of films made for the global audience. Was I impressed? Oh boy, I sure am. Every year, the Mumbai Film Festival mesmerizes me with the bouquet of films presented by them and this year was no different. Each film has stayed with me for various reasons and has taught me a lot more about the way cinema works.
And now, I am sure all the fellow film buffs have begun the countdown to the 17th edition and are missing the daily walk between Cinemax and PVR ECX (with the schedule in their hand) already.
Love,
The Dancebee
Film Review | Killa (The Fort)
Some films are just made to entertain you. Others, filled with nail biting moments, keep you on the edge of the seat. But rarely does one come across a cinematic treat, that leaves you spell bound, making you get out of the seat, just to give a standing ovation to the entire cast and crew of the film. One such marvel that I recently came across was Killa (The Fort), a simple film with a stunning visual experience. There are times when words fall short to praise such a masterpiece, especially when it is made in your own backyard (and mother tongue). And as the end credits of the film rolled out during the ongoing Mumbai Film Festival 2014, I faced a similar situation.
Killa (The Fort) explores the protagonist's pain, sense of belonging and twisted relationships with an incredible ease. The young boy Chinmay moves into Guhagar with his mother, who has a transferable job. She knows the risks involved and understands the pain that her son goes through, every time he has to adjust in a new city or village, but being the sole bread earner of the house, she can't help it. Chinmay discovers friendship at his new school, and just as he starts mingling with his new found buddies, a race leads them to a fort, where nostalgia, fear and emptiness clasps Chinmay's mind. What unfolds is a wonderful tale that will move you, and shall stay with you even after you step out of the theater, for a long, long time.
Each technical aspect of this film, be it the background score, editing, screenplay, dialogues or the king of all (and the biggest crowd puller) - cinematography, is simply top notch. Being someone whose ancestral roots belong to the unnoticed Heaven-on-earth, Konkan, I was mesmerized by the way first time Director and Dop Avinash Arun has captured the essence of the region. Be it the moss covered Vijaydurga fort during the monsoon season, the roads covered with palm trees on both sides, little ponds where kids simply can't do without taking a swim or the unforgettable, golden sand beaches which can even give some of the popular Goan beaches a run for their money; Arun has chosen the right locations and captured them beautifully on the lens. I am yet to see any film which has done perfect justice to the aesthetics of Konkan, the way Killa has.
Among the performers, both Amruta Subhash (mother) and Archit were flawless. In not a single moment in the film have they displayed any over-the-top emotions. Amruta and Archit portrayed their roles with real dedication and stepped into the shoes of their respective characters earnestly. This was clearly evident in their performances. One could feel the mother's dilemma, as juggling work responsibilities with troubles at home is no cakewalk. On the other side, we could also sympathize with Chinmay, as he is forever longing for love from friends and family, but fails to understand his own mother's predicament. The other 'gang' members of Chinmay's school were also good. But it was Parth Bhalerao as Bandya who won everyone's heart with his antics. His swag, the 'I have arrived' attitude and ease with which he delivers every dialogue is just extraordinary.That tiny package is truly a dhamaka in this film.
It is not everyday that an Indian film wins the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale. It is also not everyday that the public demand forces the organizers of the Mumbai Film Festival 2014 to arrange for a third show of this film. But above all this, it is not everyday that a magical spectacle like Killa is made in your own country. A special message to Avinash and his entire team - Such brilliant work makes every Maharashtrian proud! I feel proud and happy of the fact that the Marathi film industry is brimming with such exceptional talent. Thank you for this little gem called Killa.
Looking forward to more from you, Avinash!
So folks, please make sure that you step out and watch this film, as soon as it hits the theaters.
And just as it happened with Haider, rating Killa and giving it stars won't be fair. Such films are just a class apart.
Love,
The Dancebee
MAMI (Mumbai Film Festival 2011)
MAMI Mumbai film festival 2011 ended on October 20th with the screening of the films, Dolphin Tale and Pina. I consider myself lucky, as I got the opportunity to watch 14 brilliantly crafted films this year, thanks to the fact that Cinemax Sion was one of the venues. It was an amazing experience and honestly, being a Film and Literature student, there was a lot to learn from each of these films. Some films had scripts which were beyond imagination, some had simple stories and some were just visually stunning. Also, the editing techniques, visual effects and use of light in some of these films was just superb.
I decided to watch films made in different languages rather than just sticking to English. Also, I did not blindly believe what the critics had said about a certain film. If the subject was interesting, I was just went for it. Out of all the films I've seen, I would like to recommend some that should definitely make their way on your must watch list!
1.Generation P (Russian) - Based on the novel by Russian author Victor Pelevin. The film focuses on the rise of the advertising industry in Post-Soviet Russia.
2. My Little Princess (French) - One of my favorites! Directed by Eva Lonesco, this film is about the love-hate relationship between an eccentric mother Hannah and her sweet 10yr old daughter Violetta. The mother who is a photographer, asks her daughter to pose in frilly period grab just for fun. As days go by, from being a normal school girl, Violetta suddenly becomes the class pariah and is forced to pose nude by her own mother. My Little Princess won the Best film award at MAMI this year.
3. Lovely Man (Indonesian) - Cahaya, a girl with strong Islamic values, discovers that her father is a transvestite working on the streets. The story unfolds in one night which they spent together. A sensitive subject that was handled with great maturity.
4. La conquete (French) - The film shows France and it's run up to the presidential elections. This film is the journey of Nicolas Sarkozy, the man who gained power, but at the cost of losing his wife.
5. Pina - Pure poetry in motion! That's the only way I can describe this beautiful movie. This feature length dance film portrays the inimitable art of the German choreographer Pina Bausch, who died in Summer 2009. The film was in 3D and is aesthetically shot. The choreography was well, simply stunning!
6.Sunny - (South Korean) A MUST WATCH! It will definitely strengthen your special bond with the besties. Some moments in the film made me cry, while some made me think, "Wow, I might think the same way 10-15 years later." The film is about a group of friends, who form a group in school called Sunny. All the girls come from different walks of life. They get separated, only to meet each other years later.
7.Urumi - (Malayalam) A Period drama starring Prithvi and Genelia D'souza, which is a real story about a boy named Kelu and Vasco Da Gama. The cinematography of this movie is breathtaking and so are the visual effects.
8. 17 Filles (French) - 17 girls decide to pregnant for fun and they don't know what's coming their way.
MAMI 2011 has pushed me to think beyond Indian, Regional and International cinema. I was shocked to see Molaghat, a beautiful film helmed by 3 directors (They have analysed the meaning of death in their own way through 3 short stories) from Iran. Such film fests are a boon to people like me who love World cinema!
So try and watch these fabulous films whenever you can and I am sure you will love it as much as I did. The MAMI team is doing a fantastic job by bringing together some wonderful world movies all under one roof. Can't wait for the 14th edition of this wonderful film festival now.
