Bengaluru’s Suchitra Film Society celebrates 50 years, releases book by Aruna Rajé Patil

Bengaluru’s Suchitra Film Society celebrates 50 years, releases book by Aruna Rajé Patil

Suchitra Film Society (SFS) organised a Film Festival in collaboration with the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) and Surana College. The festival was formally inaugurated on 15 October, by watering a potted plant by the Principal of Surana College, D.N.S. Kumar, and Principal of PU College, Chandrashekharappa, in the presence of the President and Secretary of SFS, Suresha B. and Deepa Ganesh.

College authorities were very happy that the event was organised there, and even expressed the desire to start a film club in the college. At the inauguration, the film screened was Madhyantara, which is in Kannada, and is directed by Dinesh Shenoy. As part of the festival, SFS also screened the best films of Asoka Handagama, paying tribute to the Srilankan director.

On the last day of the festival, 23 October, a book, titled Films Through Women’s Eyes, was launched by author, noted director, editor, film script writer and life-coach, Aruna Rajé Patil. Aruna also happens to be my Guru, having taught me film direction, and is the woman who made compelling films and TV series, like Firebrand (on Netflix), Tum – A Dangerous Obsession, Bhairavi, Shadi Ya... (TV series), Patit Pawan, Rihaee, Sitam (co-directed), Gehrayee (co-directed) and Shaque (co-directed).

Aruna Raje Patil is at the centre, N. Vidyashankar is on her left

The closing function was presided over by film critic N. Vidyashankar, and the guest of honour was Nanjunde Gowda, President Karnataka Film Directors’ Association. The book has been edited by very senior film-critic and journalist, Maithili Rao and Prof. N. Manu Charavarthy, well-known film critic and writer. It profiles as many as 17 women directors of India, who have a made a mark in the film industry, despite living in a male-dominated society.

In their latest newsletter, there is a message by the Society. It is reproduced below in its entirety.

“Warm greetings to the Suchitra fraternity. A week long film festival, with screenings of over 20 films marked the culmination of the golden jubilee celebrations of Suchitra Film Society. The festival, hosted at the Surana College Auditorium, was well by students, connoisseurs, and members, infusing the atmosphere with warmth and enthusiasm.

We are extremely happy that the inaugural film of the festival, Madhyantara, has been selected for the Indian Panorama 2022. There were many plans in the pipeline, but given the constraints within which we functioned over the last few years, the committee of the festival is happy that it could achieve at least part of its dream and is also grateful for the support extended by all its senior members.

This will the last newsletter of the current executive committee of Suchitra Film Society. We had hoped to amicably resolve all the differences and reinstate the trust and friendship on which the institution was founded. We also hoped to accord primacy to the spirit of constructive criticism and feedback, for, it is an organisation built and nurtured by people. We have tried our very best, but, sadly, the forces are not with us. May the future hold moments that see the institution as inviolable and may good ethics prevail at all times.

Secretary.

About Suchitra Film Society (from their website)

In August 1971, a group of young engineers, interested in cinema, got together to launch Suchitra Film Society. The 1970s in Karnataka saw a surge of critical and creative exploration of the arts, imagined and conceived in the Kannada language, with an explosion of new literature, new journalism, new theatre and new cinema.

Suchitra’s interest in cinema and its vital connection with the Bangalore renaissance led it to expand its engagement with the arts to theatre, music, movement arts, literature and languages.

Suchitra is all set to build on its reputation as an important centre of cinema appreciation, arts, media and culture and realise its full potential as a cine academy and cultural centre with an international school of moving image media, a professional theatre and a centre of interpretation of cinema, performing arts, language, literature and media.

Sometime in May 1970, a group of friends met in Chamarajpet, of the then Bangalore, to discuss starting social and cultural activities. One amongst them, H.N. Narahari Rao, suggested forming a drama troupe. But when there was a suggestion of starting a film society, it was immediately accepted by all. However, H.N. Narahari Rao had no idea about the objectives and activities of a film society. Together with others, they attended screenings of films organised by Mayura Film Society. The group met various other people who had gained experience in the society movement. At the end of all these efforts and labour, in June 1971 the first film society of South Bangalore was born. Various names like Chaya, Suchitra, Darshana, Vikas and Adarsh were considered for the new-born. Suchitra – which translates to “good cinema” won the most votes and was selected.

National College, Basavanagudi, was the venue of the formal inauguration of Suchitra in August 1971. The event was led by N. Lakshminarayana, a well-known film-maker and V.N. Subba Rao, of the Indian Express. A 16mm print of V. Shantaram’s Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani was screened at the conclusion.

Newspaper report-The Hindu-November 15, 2021

Members of the Suchitra Film Society held a silent protest against Suchitra Puravankara Film and Cultural Academy on Sunday for sidelining them and “effectively forcing their ouster”. The society has now decided to wage a legal fight against the academy to regain their rights in the trust, managing the land allotted to the society in 1979.

Veteran film-maker Girish Kasaravalli and journalist Vijayamma were among the protesters, even as the local police claimed they had not permitted the protest and tried to disperse them.

The society, started in 1971, is in its golden jubilee year. In 1979, when the State Government allotted the society a CA site, it created a trust — Suchitra Film Academy — to manage the land. Since then, the society and the trust were on the same page with the elected president of the society being a permanent member of the trust, a statement from the society recounted.

However, things started to change in 2015 when a corporate sponsor came forward to rebuild the auditorium. Starting with the name of the trust being changed, the trust deed was redone making several key changes, including removing the society’s president as a permanent member of the trust, essentially cutting off the relationship, B. Suresha, the incumbent president of the society, said.

Since then, the trust has served notices to the society demanding a “contribution” of ₹50,000 every month to run their office on the premises and has hiked the rent for the auditorium to ₹10,000. “The society has an annual income of less than ₹2 lakh and cannot bear these expenses. We are essentially being forced out,” said Mr. Suresha.

In the 2020 annual general body meeting of the society, a resolution was passed demanding restoration of the permanent membership of the society’s president and the Director of the Kannada and Culture Department in the trust. The society members, who held the silent protest on Sunday, said they were forced to protest as the trustees refused to hold talks with them, sending legal notices instead.

Raghavendra Rao Savanur, chairman of academy, said they would soon respond to the allegations made by the society members. “These are members who are not changing with the times and are insistent on continuing with old ways,” he said.

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/YUn0uq7
via gqrds

Puranjay Khanna’s debut book of poems, Second Star, released on his birthday

Puranjay Khanna’s debut book of poems, Second Star, released on his birthday

For many a literate person, reading was a lifeline throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. With the world on pause, many found themselves reading more than ever. While pandemic led to increased readership, it also gave rise to many writers. One among them is a young lad, Puranjay Khanna, whose debut book, titled Second Star got released yesterday, in the presence of renowned dignitaries, at the Taj Land’s End Hotel, Bandra, Mumbai.

The Chief Guest of the book launch event was the Honorable Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in India, Her Excellency, Ms. Katrin Kivi, while the Guest of Honour was Sumit Mullick, the Chief Information Commissioner of Maharashtra. The book launch event also saw guest performers, stage and film actor Denzil Smith and Captain Allwyn Saldanha.

Puranjay Khanna was born in Delhi but raised in Mumbai. The young writer studied in Bombay Scottish, École Mondiale and later went on to Brunel University for Under-graduation in Business and Management, followed by Post Graduation in Global Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, from Southampton University. Currently, working with his father, Puranjay came up with the idea of writing a book during the pandemic.

“I chose to not waste my time during the lockdown and, instead, to spend my time writing about every single thought I was going through, as a coping method to get through all of my emotions during that unpredictable time,” said Puranjay, on the occasion.

He further added, “The book is about finding hope even in the darkest and the most uncertain times. Second star reflects my growth as a human being over the last few years. It’s meant to be highly introspective, as well as observational, in terms of a world around me, as also myself. It’s about hope, love and anything under the sun that can be defined as life. It’s meant to be thought provoking as well as something that would maybe help a few people and enlighten their path in whatever journey they are on.”

Ms. Katrin Kivi, Puranjay and his parents

Denzil Smith, my old college friend, read a few of the poems, some to the accompaniment of Allwyn Saldanha, on the guitar, and some with the titles announced by the mistress of ceremonies, Shreya, with a bang for effect. Denzil was in his element, doing full justice to the poems, which were meta-physical and astro-physical in nature. Later, he mentioned to me that he was soon staging a Tom Stoppard play, and had an hour-long converstion with the master playwright, whi is now 85.

Denzil Smith and Sumit Mullick are on the right

Ms. Katrin Kivi spoke briefly, while Sumit Mullick took his time, and spoke very impressively. He mentioned that some of the great English poets wrote much less than 100 poems, some as little as five, and for a budding writer to pen 110 was no mean achievement. At the end of the formalities, a large cake was cut, since it also happened to be Puranjay’s birthday. The guests were later treated to sumptuous snacks, wine and beer. And I must mention that Shreya, looking gorgeous, did a superb job of compèring the event. I heard Puranjay tell her that there is always a first time. And if, indeed, this was the first time that she was compèring a function, full marks to her. The grassy poolside of the hotel provided an idyllic setting for the launch of the book.

Second Star, a reference to Peter Pan and Neverland, is a collection of 110 poems, written in prose style, using free verse and stream of consciousness, is released under the Notion Press label and is priced at Rs. 805.

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/dthGz7P
via gqrds

The Happy Meal inventor says McDonald's didn't want it at first

McDonald's said this week that it sold half of its new Happy Meals geared toward adults in just four days. But four decades ago, when the first Happy Meal debuted, the company didn't quite get it.

GM pauses advertising on Twitter after Elon Musk takeover

General Motors is pausing its advertising on Twitter now that the social media platform is owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the company said in a statement Friday.

Remember the story behind Princess Diana's revenge dress?

The summer of 1994 was uncharacteristically warm for Great Britain. Hot, sunny days were followed by close, sticky nights — and by the end of June, pressure had started to build. The last week of the month was an explosive one, meteorologically and culturally. On Friday June 24, an exceptionally severe thunderstorm hit the south east of the UK, diffusing so much grass pollen it triggered a sudden and short-lived asthma epidemic. Two days later, and after years of mounting speculation, the British press broke the news that Prince Charles had accidentally revealed his unfaithfulness to Princess Diana during an ITN documentary. (When asked if he had stayed loyal to his wife, the Prince of Wales nodded. "Yes absolutely," he said before adding of his marriage "until it became irretrievably broken down.")

Philippine death toll from storm Nalgae rises to 98, disaster agency says

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set on Monday to fly over flood-submerged districts to inspect the damage after Tropical Storm Nalgae barreled across the Southeast Asian country over the weekend, killing at least 98 people.

Unconfirmed Liz Truss phone hack report prompts calls for investigation

The UK government is facing calls to investigate after an unconfirmed media report claimed former British Prime Minister Liz Truss' phone was hacked while she was foreign secretary.

Violent clashes break out between students and security forces across Iran, rights groups say

Violent clashes broke out between security forces and student protesters at university campuses across Iran on Sunday, according to activist and human rights groups in the country.

Polls open in Brazil's tight presidential election runoff between Lula and Bolsonaro

Polls opened Sunday in Brazil's presidential election runoff between former leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, which has seen polls tighten dramatically in recent weeks.

President Aoun leaves office amid Lebanon's financial crisis

Michel Aoun, the 89-year-old Christian president who presided over Lebanon's cataclysmic financial meltdown and the deadly Beirut port blast, vacates the presidential palace on Sunday, leaving a void at the top of a failing state.

Explosions near Somalia's education ministry kill 100 people

At least 100 people were killed after two car bombs exploded near Somalia's education ministry in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday.

Five elections in four years: What's the deal with Israeli politics?

Stop us if you're heard this one before: On Tuesday, Israelis are going to the polls to elect a new Knesset, or parliament. It's the fifth time in less than four years that voters are casting ballots. Holding elections that often is bound to prompt some questions. Here are some answers.

Haitian politician shot dead, as violent gangs and political turmoil push country to the 'edge of collapse'

A Haitian politician has been shot dead outside his home, authorities have said, as international concerns intensify over the gang violence, political turmoil and humanitarian crises that have seized control of the country.

They fled a Boko Haram massacre. Now, after years in refugee camps, families return to rebuild their lives

It is a sight Ya Lewa Aji says she can never forget: a baby strapped to her mother's back, shot dead while the mother lay lifeless on the floor.

What happened to China's former leader Hu Jintao?

• Analysis: Xi's 'action men' now lead China's military. Here's what that means for Taiwan • US defense strategy: US must strengthen defenses in face of threats from China, Russia

West Bank militants threaten Israel and warn their own leaders as tensions rise

Four US-made M4 Carbine rifles lean against the back of the sofa. The young men, mostly dressed in black civilian clothes, are relaxed and chatty. Neighbors pop their heads in to say hello through a door open to the street.

Qatar summons German ambassador over interior minister's World Cup remarks

Qatar's Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador Claudius Fischbach on Friday following the recent comments made by interior minister Nancy Faeser regarding the Gulf state's hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

Three likely outcomes for Yeezy products: destroy it, rebrand it, export it

Yeezy merchandise has no place to go.

America and Saudi Arabia are locked in a bitter battle over oil. The stakes are massive

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is one of the most important on the planet. And lately, it's also been one of the most awkward.

Food is on the ballot for millions of poor Brazilians ahead of presidential run-off vote

In a flimsy wooden structure in a small favela on the outer edges of São Paulo, a kitchen, bed, and television occupy the same room.

Damaged plane makes emergency landing after encountering severe weather

A LATAM Airlines plane was damaged traveling from Santiago, Chile, to Asunción, Paraguay, and had to make an emergency landing at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport on Wednesday after experiencing "severe weather conditions during its flight path," the airline told CNN in a statement on Thursday.

Stabbing attack in Italy kills one, injures soccer player Pablo Mari

One person has died after a stabbing attack on the outskirts of the Italian city of Milan on Thursday, according to Italian national police, which also injured four people, including Spanish soccer player Pablo Mari.

Dutch foreign ministry investigating reports that China set up two purportedly illegal police stations in Netherlands

The Dutch foreign ministry is "investigating" reports that China has set up two purportedly illegal police stations in the Netherlands.

Iran security forces crack down on mourners at Nika Shahkarami ceremony

Mourners gathering to commemorate the 40th day since the death of Nika Shahkarami, an Iranian teenager who went missing on September 20 after attending protests in the capital Tehran, were met with gunfire and tear gas by security forces, according to video posted on social media and geolocated by CNN.

In possible sign for US, Chile's flu hospitalizations were highest in three years, but vaccination helped

In a possible warning sign for the US and other Northern Hemisphere countries, Chile's 2022 flu season started much earlier than usual and brought more hospitalizations than during the pandemic, but the effectiveness of the vaccine against hospitalization was estimated to be almost 50%, according to a new study published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Black and poor women may decide who will be the next president of Brazil

On Sunday, Brazilian voters will decide who will be their president for the next four years -- and polls and experts suggest women will be key in determining the outcome.

Thai tycoon and transgender rights advocate buys Miss Universe for $20 million

A Thai media tycoon and transgender rights advocate has bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, according to her company, which will now host the international beauty pageant.

Brazil's election explained: Lula and Bolsonaro face off in high stakes vote

Brazil votes for a new president on Sunday, in the final round of a polarizing election that has been described as the most important in the country's democratic history.

The world leaders who refuse to leave the stage

George Washington knew when to cede power. But many of today's global leaders find it much harder to leave the stage — and could do with a dose of the first US President's humility.

State news: 15 killed, 40 injured in 'terrorist attack' in Iran

At least 15 people were killed and 10 others were injured Wednesday in a "terrorist attack" at the Shahcheragh Shrine in the city of Shiraz, southern Iran, according to state-run IRNA news.

CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward reports on the aftermath of an overnight strike in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.

Belgian non-profit APOPO is training rodents to search the rubble of disaster zones for survivors, and kitting them out with tiny, high-tech backpacks to help first responders communicate with them.

Major exhibition dispels myths around 'complex artist' Modigliani

More than a century after the death of Amedeo Modigliani, a consortium of art historians and conservation experts convened by the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia is discovering hidden aspects of the artist's techniques thanks to new research and analytical technologies.

Archaeologists restoring ISIS damage discover long-lost Assyrian reliefs

Archaeologists in northern Iraq have uncovered some extraordinary Assyrian rock carvings dating back around 2,700 years.

Adidas cuts ties with rapper Kanye West over anti-semitism

The fashion giant said it does "not tolerate antisemitism" after the rapper's recent remarks.

#rapper #kanyewest #fashiongiant #adidas

5.1 earthquake hits near San Jose, rattling Bay Area

5.1 earthquake hits near San Jose, rattling Bay Area The Bay Area was rattled Tuesday by a 5.1 earthquake centered near San Jose that was felt across the region. There were no immediate...

#bayarea #sanjose #usgeologicalsurvey #earthquake #bayareathebayarea #quake #east

0% intro APR until 2024 is 100% insane

Analysis: Can Rishi Sunak end the chaos and restore Britain's credibility?

The rise of Rishi Sunak to the top job in British politics is remarkable. Just seven weeks ago he was comprehensively beaten by Liz Truss in the Conservative party's leadership contest. Today, after emerging victorious in a leadership contest that was fast-tracked out of the wreckage of her short premiership, he is only an audience with King Charles III away from Downing Street.

Several dead after Israeli joint security forces raid in West Bank

At least four Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military raid in the old city of Nablus in the West Bank in the early hours of Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Indonesia considers prosecutions over cough syrup suspected of links to child deaths

Indonesia's food and drugs agency on Monday said it may pursue criminal action against two pharmaceutical firms that made products linked to acute kidney injury (AKI), amid a spike in cases and deaths among children this year.

She grew up during Iran's Islamic revolution. Today, artist Marjane Satrapi feels conflicted her memoir is 'more accurate than ever'

Iranian-French artist Marjane Satrapi was 10 when wearing the veil became compulsory at the non-religious, French-speaking school she attended in Tehran. Previously, boys and girls were taught together, but she was soon also separated from her male friends in the name of a cultural revolution instigated by revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Australia's richest woman pulls $8.9 million netball sponsorship in bombshell decision

When Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart threw a financial lifeline to Netball Australia, she triggered a debate about sponsorships and the role of social and political issues in the sporting sphere. Then she walked away.

Tesla's stock sinks after cutting prices on cars in China

Tesla has cut starting prices for its Model 3 and Model Y cars by as much as 9% in China, reversing a trend of increases across the industry amid signs of softening demand in the world's largest auto market.

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz dies, company says

The owner and co-founder of the sports drink company Red Bull has died, the company announced Saturday.

The economy may be in better shape than you think — for now

The housing market is rapidly losing steam. Interest rates continue to rise. The stock market remains volatile. And inflation continues to be a major problem for people trying to pay their bills.

Passengers in fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes are 'crime victims,' US judge says

A US judge in Texas ruled on Friday that people killed in two Boeing 737 MAX crashes are legally considered "crime victims," a designation that will determine what remedies should be imposed.

US home prices are finally falling. But how low will they go?

The US housing market is in the midst of a major shift. After two years of stratospheric price appreciation, home prices have peaked and are on their way back down.

UN torture prevention body suspends Australia tour due to lack of cooperation

The United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) suspended its tour of Australian prisons on Sunday, citing a lack of cooperation from officials who denied them access to some detention facilities.

Kherson resident describes a ghost town of exhausted people, with acute shortages of medicine

A resident of Kherson has described the situation in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city as tense, with people "emotionally exhausted," the streets empty from mid-afternoon onwards, and Russian soldiers often seen in civilian clothes.

Hurricane Roslyn makes landfall in Mexico, potentially bringing 'life-threatening' conditions

Hurricane Roslyn slammed into west-central Mexico on Sunday, bringing torrential rain and threatening inland flooding.

Author Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and hand is 'incapacitated' following August stabbing attack, agent says

Author Salman Rushdie has lost his sight in one eye and one of his hands is "incapacitated" following a stabbing attack in August, according to an interview given by his agent to a Spanish newspaper.

Suspicious device found at a Toronto airport has been disarmed and 2 people are in custody, authorities say

Two people were taken into custody after authorities located and later disarmed a possible explosive device at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, police said.

Iran says it will sue US, alleging 'direct involvement' in protests

Iran said Saturday it would take legal action against the United States, accusing it of "direct involvement" in the protests sweeping the country.

Analysis: Can Boris Johnson really return as Britain's leader?

For those watching from outside the UK, it might seem bizarre that Boris Johnson is being tipped to return as prime minister, just months after he was forced to resign in disgrace following a string of scandals.

Giorgia Meloni is set to be sworn in as Italy's prime minister. Some fear the hard-right turn she's promised to take

Giorgia Meloni, the hard-right leader who is due to be sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister, won the election on a campaign built around a promise to block migrant ships and support for traditional "family values" and anti-LGBTQ themes.

New York Film Festival 2022

Celebrating its 60^th anniversary, the New York Film Festival (NYFF) continues to rank as one of the most important film festivals in the United States. NYFF 2022 operates very differently from its early 60s origins and the expansive program reflects this. One of the co-founders of NYFF, Amos Vogel, quoted by Manohla  Dargis, emphasized in 1965 that the mission of the festival was to reflect the most interesting  trends and new works in global film making. For Vogel, the commercial status of a film and box office success was secondary. NYFF 2022 celebrated the theatrical experience of the audience, and selected films were not chosen for passage to mainstream theaters. As observed by Stephen Follows, of the independent films released in the USA between 1999 and 2018, 90% never screened in cinemas.  Virtually all productions in the main slate programs had already been acquired. After the festival several films will be shown on streaming services, such as Noah Baumbach’s opening feature WHITE NOISE set to be released on Netflix around Christmas 2023.

Managed by its executive director Eugene Hernandez, who has since departed to run the 2023 Sundance festival, and Dennis Lim the NYFF artistic director, NYFF 2022 was presented by Film at Lincoln Center from September 30 – October 16, lasting 7 days longer than Cannes. Films were screened at six Lincoln Center venues and at five partner venues in all five New York City boroughs in addition to the Mayles Documentary Center in Harlem.  Apart from online screenings of some productions for members of the press and industry, there was no access to films beyond theatrical venues. The hybrid NYFF 2020 format with on-line screenings and drive-ins was no longer applied. This year, the program grew again including 120 productions with 73  featured in 5 sections. Many of the principal films were made by established film makers or had been presented before at major film festivals like Cannes, Venice, the Berlin International Film Festival and Sundance.  A viewer looking for world premieres could find them only in the Spotlight (6) and Currents (1) sections but not among the main slate titles.

The Main Slate section had 32 of the most exciting new feature films from around the world, including 7 from the US.  As quoted in the program the, 12 Spotlight films “show the season’s most anticipated and significant films” which included 5 world premieres and 7 US films. With 15 productions, Current Features “complemented the main slate with an emphasis on new innovative forms and voices” with one US co-production. The Current Shorts section had 8 productions.  Revivals carried 14 films “from renowned filmmakers, digitally remastered, restored and preserved with the assistance of generous partners”. This section included  the 1964 Brazilian film BLACK GOD AND WHITE DEVIL by Glauber Rocher, Jacques Tourneur’s 1946 US film CANYON PASSAGE, the Finnish 1972 production EIGHT DEADLY SHOTS by Mikko Niskanen, and the 1973 French film THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE directed by Jean Eustache.

The expansion of the NYFF program was accompanied by the addition of more interaction between audiences and filmmakers in the NYFF Talks presented by HBO. Tickets for the talks were free and their videos could be accessed on the Film at Lincoln Center’s YouTube Channel.  Throughout the festival, 17 talks were arranged including the 2022 Amos Vogel Lecture by Cauleen Smith. Viewers also benefited from Noah Baumbach’s in depth analysis of how he adapted Don DeLillo’s novel White Noise,  Nan Goldin reviewing the roots of her photography’s radical humanism,  a discussion with Annie Ernaux, the 2022 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, about  her writing career,  Alice Diop and Frederic Wiseman reviewing the differences between French and American narrative cinema as a systematic critique, and the 2022 NYFF wrap up by the editors of Film Comment.

The list of corporate partners for the festival and of the specific curated programs they are sponsoring has also expanded for NYFF’s 60^th anniversary. Official partners are HBO, Campari, and the New York Times,  as Benefactors Netflix, Citi, and American Airlines are identified. Supporting corporations are Bloomberg Philanthropies, Topic Studios and Hearst.  Among contributing companies are Dolby, TCM, MUBI, Infiniti, and UniFrance as well as federal, state, and city agencies. Media partners include Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, the WNET Group, and Indie Wire.  To identify some specific programs sponsored:  HBO backs the documentary features and the NYFF Talks, Campari presents the Opening Night selection, Topic Studios funds the NYFF Industry Program, and MUBI sponsors the NYFF feature film. Expanding Netflix presence further the original content series FLC Luminaries presented by Netflix will be changed to a yearlong series introducing artists from NYFF60 selections to discuss cinema.

There were numerous outstanding films in the 2022 program with some overflow press screenings. Among this reviewer’s favorites were SLAUGHTERHOUSES OF MODERNITY by Heinz Emigholz, a 2022 German documentary which world premiered at NYFF and ALCARRÀS by Carla Simon coproduced by Spain and Italy in 2021, this year’s Berlinale Golden Bear winner.

SLAUGHTERHOUSES OF MODERNITY chronicles and editorializes the development of architecture over the last one hundred years against superbly filmed examples from different countries and placing them in the political-economic contexts of their times. Viewers are reminded of long forgotten or repressed elements of the German past going back to emperor Wilhelm II and his crimes. As visually demonstrated by Emigholz, architecture cannot be disconnected from the dominant political and capitalist ideologies which impact the construction of public buildings and spaces. In his prologue, Emigholz maintains that due to modern science, individuals no longer relate to and comprehend space in a traditional way; that “terms such as tradition, modernism, and postmodernism have become detached from real life society”. With the collapse of Western imperialism, the confusion among intellectuals became paramount. Instead, an end of history was propagated where everything was feasible. Dominant styles in the past were defined by religious ideologies. They faded, and the order of western architecture imposed by economic factors reflected a process of disconnection between public tastes as demonstrated in Argentine, Bolivia, Italy, and Germany. In the thirties, massive structures celebrating concrete, including churches, were built without color. In Argentine, the same held for huge, now abandoned, slaughterhouses. Brutalism prevailed as did the shift to absurd functionalism except in Italy where Mussolini insured that postal and railway structures retained color and elements of the Bauhaus. In his editorial comments accompanying the visual material, Emigholz recounts a Latin American poet’s story of the intellectual formation of a concentration camp commander by German philosophers and the lessons he and other Germans learned about  the power of experiencing violence in the creation of the New Man, der Neue Mensch.  These lessons were already outlined by emperor Wihelm II who admired Hitler. He held that no prisoner be left alive when German troops went to China in 1900. He ordered he first concentration camps be built in 1905 to exterminate African Herero and Nama tribes who were fighting the German occupiers, and he was the first leader to authorize military use of poison gas in 1915 at Ypres. Emigholz outlines the politics that determined the destruction of the Berliner Stadtschloss by the DDR in 1950, a royal palace inhabited until 1918 by the Hohenzollern rulers. In 1976 the DDR constructed its replacement, the Palace of the Republic, facing East. The Palace was razed in 2006 by the newly formed German Federal Republic for asbestos contamination. In 2012 the New Palace or Neues Schloss was rebuild facing West in the traditional style with some old elements but adding new features in a style reminiscent of Third Reich approaches. Humboldt Forum was the neutral name of the new complex. Emigholz ends his visual documentation and commentaries by introducing sone of the sixty buildings designed by Freddy Mamani Sylvestre since 2008 in Bolivia’s highest city, El Alto. These buildings cannot be identified by any style and reflect mixtures of multishape arrangements using a bright assortment of primary colors.  As Emigholz proposes, the vast lower space below the shopping and living section of the Sylvestre building could be used as a show room for cars and huge consumer items or a large disco could be installed. Economic factors prevail.

The impact of unreflected economic factors is a dominant strain in Carla Simon’s film ALCARRÀS. Urban renewal in the US from the thirties through the fifties, driven by commercial considerations, supported by politicians, trade unions, and construction companies, resulted in the large-scale destruction of residential neighborhoods. Minority groups were often the victims. I wonder how many of the upscale individuals enjoying the arts at Lincoln Center realize the massive displacement of the people who used to live there and the social costs they had to bear for this institutional cultural gentrification. The destruction of urban communities is similar to what happens in rural regions.

ALCARRÀS won the Golden Bear as the best feature film at the 2020 Berlinale.  The film depicts the demise of traditional farming in Spanish Catalonia through an ensemble portrait of the Solé family. Another family, the Pinyols, dispossess the Solé’s of their family land and uproot the plantation where the  large Sole family has cultivated peaches for generations. The family is served an eviction notice despite the grandfather, Rogelio, having had an oral commitment from the Pinyol owners whose life he saved during the Spanish war. The land dislocation problem of Solé’s mirrors a global process.  Economic factors like the industrialization of farming, high yield real estate developments, lower cost imports, and the absence of legal protections have diminished the viability of family farming. The moral notion that those who work the land should own it has no legal basis. Carla Simon grew up in a large family which had also cultivated peaches in Alcarràs and knows the dynamics and problems of farming family life. Despite this, she has retained her attachment to agriculture. Her biographical experience was the basis for the film. As she points out, “It [the film] was conceived as an ensemble piece due to express what it means to be part of a huge family. Crossed dialogues, opposed energies, chaos, small but meaningful gestures, emotions that cause domino effects. Each member of the Solé family tries to find their own place just as they are about to lose their common identity”.  To develop the authenticity of the Solé family, Carla Simon decided to cast only non-professional actors from Alcarràs with a family farming background. In the recruitment process, she went to all village fairs in the region and interviewed more than 9.000 individuals.

The impending loss of their family land is known to all of the Solé family members. There are some angry exchanges between the grandfather and his son about Rogelio’s  failure to get a written title to the land they farm, but to the very end, even when bulldozers are razing the land next to their home while they gather on the outside for a meal, the family continues acting as though nothing will change; they cling to the reality they had taken for granted for so long. They continue to farm, their children play, there are family disputes, meals, and events, and they continue to work. The performances by the actors are naturalistic and authentic. The pacing of ALCARRÀS adds to its appeal by bringing to light the disappearing rural extended family, unknown to most audience though perhaps familiar through the lens of the declining urban nuclear family.

 

Claus Mueller, New York

filmexchange@gmail.com

 

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/v6eZmpx
via gqrds

Iranian teachers call for nationwide ​​strike in protest over deaths and ​​detention of students

A teachers' union in Iran called for a nationwide teacher strike in protest over the recent deaths and detention of students in the country, the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations (CCITTA) said in a statement on Telegram on Thursday.

Is Barilla really 'Italy's No. 1 brand of pasta?' Lawsuit says no

Barilla can't avoid a class-action lawsuit over allegedly deceptive advertising about the pasta's origins, a federal judge ruled this week.

Inflation has people living paycheck to paycheck. Here's how some banks are responding

"Payday Friday" may soon be replaced by "Payday Wednesday."

Elon Musk didn't want EV tax credits. Now Tesla is warming up to them

Tesla buyers may be able to take advantage of new federal tax credits for electric vehicles next year, the automaker's executives said Wednesday. The credits can be as large as $7,500 for new vehicles and $4,000 for used vehicles.

A few Italian villagers have found the 'elixir' to a healthy life

It's a place of terraced lemon groves, a paradoxically warm mountain breeze, and a powerful fat-killing gene carried by a few lucky residents.

The hunt for the world's most elusive shipwrecks

In March 2022, the world let out a collective gasp when the remarkably preserved shipwreck of Ernest Shackleton's HMS Endurance was discovered almost two miles beneath the icy Antarctic seas.

Imran Khan disqualified from holding office for five years, Pakistan's election commission rules

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be disqualified from holding political office for five years, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recommended on Friday, a move likely to further inflame political tensions in the country.

Malawi police find more bodies near mass grave that contained 25 Ethiopians

Four more bodies of suspected illegal migrants from Ethiopia have been found near the site of a mass grave in northern Malawi that contained the remains of 25 Ethiopian nationals, according to police in the southern African country.

The greatest risk to China's Xi Jinping? Himself

China's economy is faltering. Unemployment is skyrocketing. Endless Covid lockdowns are wreaking havoc on businesses and people's lives. The property sector is in crisis. Ties between Beijing and major global powers are under strain.

How Liz Truss' term as British prime minister went from bad to worse

• Possible frontrunners for UK prime minister include familiar faces • Video: See the moment Truss resigned

Indonesia bans sale of all cough syrups after 99 child deaths

Indonesia has halted the sale of all syrup and liquid medicines following the deaths of nearly 100 children and an unexplained spike in cases of acute kidney injuries.

Eight killed as parcel bombs and gunfire rock Myanmar's biggest jail

Bombs inside parcels exploded at Myanmar's biggest jail on Wednesday prompting soldiers to return fire in a confrontation in which at least eight people were killed, state media and a witness said.

Iran is slowly entrenching itself as a player in the Ukraine war

As Russia faces growing setbacks in Ukraine, it appears to be increasingly turning to Iran for help, in a development that has sparked concern from the West and Tehran's regional adversaries.

Twitterverse vigilance scares LVMH CEO into dumping his private plane

Billionaires are no match for the Twitterverse.

Rolls-Royce's first electric car has two doors and is longer than a Cadillac Escalade

Rolls-Royce will start production of its first electric car next year. It has only two doors but is longer than a full-size SUV. And among its innumerable options, the Spectre will be offered with stars in the doors.

Group of Iranian sports figures calls on FIFA to ban Iranian Football Federation from World Cup

A law firm has sent a letter to FIFA on behalf of a group of former and current Iranian sports figures urging football's governing body to suspend the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) and ban it from participating at this year's World Cup in Qatar.

Opinion: Liz Truss is on track to become Britain's shortest-serving prime minister

"The Prime Minister is not under a desk."

It's official: now avoid credit card interest into 2024

The doctors risking it all to treat Iran's protesters

Arash says he has grown adept at spotting undercover Iranian law enforcement officers.

Germany's cybersecurity chief fired following reports of alleged Russian ties

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sacked Arne Schönbohm, the head of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), with immediate effect from his duties, a spokesperson for the ministry told CNN on Tuesday, after recent media reports alleged he had links with people involved with Russian intelligence services.

Concerns mount over Iranian climber after she competed without hijab

• Analysis: A rare moment of public self-criticism by a former president

US State Department confirms detention of US citizen in Saudi Arabia

The US State Department confirmed that 72-year-old American citizen Saad Ibrahim Almadi has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia after being given a 16-year sentence for tweets critical of the Saudi government.

Australia reverses Trump-era recognition of West Jerusalem as capital of Israel

The Australian government has reversed a decision by its predecessor to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, prompting a rebuke from the Israeli government.

Why women in leadership roles are more likely than ever to quit

When it comes to getting promoted into management, men still have the advantage.

Mercedes CEO says Europe's gas crisis will accelerate its shift to renewables

Europe's gas crisis will be "a catalyst" for Mercedes-Benz to push deeper into clean energy, says its CEO.

Japanese Prime Minister orders investigation into controversial Unification Church

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has ordered an investigation into the Unification Church amid a growing scandal tying his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to the controversial religious group.

China delays the release of GDP and other economic data without explanation amid Party Congress

China has abruptly delayed the publication of key economic data, one day before its scheduled release, as the ruling Communist Party gathers at a major political meeting against the backdrop of a faltering economy.

Indonesia murder trial puts spotlight on alleged police impunity

The trial of a former Indonesian police general accused of orchestrating the murder of his bodyguard started at a Jakarta court on Monday, in a case that has put a spotlight on alleged impunity and corruption in the country's police force.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss apologizes for mini-budget 'mistakes'

British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Monday apologized for her controversial mini-budget that crashed the country's currency, rattled financial markets and led to her firing her finance minister and closest political ally.

More than 600 killed in Nigeria's worst flooding in a decade

The death toll from the worst flooding Nigeria has seen in a decade has passed 600 people, the country's humanitarian affairs ministry tweeted on Sunday.

Tourists in Italy are behaving badly this year. Here's why:

Swimming in UNESCO-protected canals. Breaking into historic sites. Driving down the world's most famous staircase. And just when you thought that was as bad as it gets: smashing priceless sculptures in a fit of pique.

Phone Bhoot ghost shoots a mockumentary

Phone Bhoot ghost shoots a mockumentary

The trailer of Phone Bhoot, the comedy horror film that is scheduled for release on 04 November, was trending continuously for 24 hours on YouTube. Taking ahead their constant efforts of building anticipation, the makers dropped a fun promo of a mockumentary, a few days back, and now they are finally here with the full video.

As we see the full video now, we notice the actors indulging in hilarious banter and enjoying taking a dig at each other. The chemistry between the trio is palpable! Katrina is the world’s most beautiful ghost, stealing the limelight and focus from the boys, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Ishaan. Directed by Gurmmeet Singh and written by Ravi Shankaran and Jasvinder Singh Bath, Phone Bhoot is produced by Excel Entertainment, headed by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar. You can watch the mockumentary by clicking on the link below.

Link: https://bit.ly/OffTheRecord-WithPB

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/ocFsR89
via gqrds

Hong Kong protester allegedly beaten at Chinese consulate in UK

Activists and lawmakers in the United Kingdom are demanding an investigation after a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was allegedly beaten on the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester.

UN refugee agency 'deeply distressed' by reports of nearly 100 stripped migrants at Greece-Turkey border

The United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) has said it is "deeply distressed" by reports of nearly 100 naked migrants at the border between Greece and Turkey.

Damien Hirst has begun burning thousands of his own paintings

Smoke rose from artist Damien Hirst's London gallery on Tuesday, as 1,000 of his signature "spot" paintings went up in flames. Thousands more will be reduced to ashes before the month is out.

12-meter floods to inundate thousands of properties, Australian emergency services warn

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese toured flooded areas of the southeastern state of Victoria Sunday -- as emergency services warned waters up to 12 meters were expected to inundate thousands of properties.

Kahani Rubber Band Ki, Review: Precaution first, protection afterwards

Kahani Rubber Band Ki, Review: Precaution first, protection afterwards

No, it is not the story of a rubber band. The term is used as a euphemism for something that was known as French Leather in the latter part of the twentieth century. Towards the end of the twentieth century and till now, the term ‘protection’ has taken its place. It appears from the film, set in Varanasi, that in towns and Tier III (small) towns at least, men are still shy about saying the word “condom”. Not only that, some are so embarrassed that they end up buying sweets or chocolates when asked by the chemist what they want. The cheapest and most convenient way of family planning, it has become popular in India, ever since the family planning campaign was launched by the then government, half a century ago. But societal norms still cause the buyer to hesitate before buying. Perhaps it is associated with promiscuity, though the overwhelming majority of buyers are husbands who do not want pregnancies. Kahani Rubber Band Ki is about condom malfunction, and its consequences. It is a small film, with a subject that will have limited appeal.

Love at first sight beckons Akash Tripathi, when he sees lovely Kavya arriving on a motorcycle, untying a head scarf and jerking her hair in typical style. She too takes an instant liking to him. Kavya has a friend, Tina, and for some time there is a misunderstanding whether Akash likes Kavya or Tina, because Tina was the pillion rider on the bike. Once it is sorted out, the two have a brief courtship, after which Akash proposes. He, though a qualified engineer, has a small grocery shop and his father is a school teacher. Kavya’s father is a YouTuber, posting cookery videos. She has lost her mother. The fact that she is Gujarati, a Patel, could have been an obstruction in their marriage, but as it turns out, it does not matter. Akash says that his father wants to recover all that he has spent on his son’s life from the bride’s family as dowry, but that too proves a baseless fear. The two get married.

But just a month later, their lives are turned upside down due to an accidental pregnancy caused by a ‘protection’ malfunction, shattering all their dreams. Neither of them wanted a child so soon. This leads to misunderstandings and the complete breakdown of a beautiful relationship between Akash and Kavya, as well as between their two families. Akash begins to suspect that the child is not his, but that of Rohan, Kavya’s close friend. Shocked and humiliated, a tearful Kavya goes back to her parental home. After overhearing a conversation between a couple, Akash begins to believe that Kavya’s pregnancy could have been caused by a torn condom, a ‘protection malfunction’. Akash files a consumer complaint against the condom manufacturers, not just to protect his relationship with Kavya, but also to promote public awareness. And to fight his case, he chooses the chemist’s son, Nanno, his best friend, who is an LL.B. This was the very shop from which he had bought those condoms, but the father, not the son, was manning it when he went there.

A one-woman show, the film is produced, directed and written by Sarika Sanjot, for her banner, Moonhouse Movies. This is her second venture as producer. GST (Galti Sirf Tumhari, 2017) marked her debut as a producer, under the banner Shree Sai Cine Vision. One look at her picture on the internet, and I felt that she could have been an actor. That she is, having played a character called Sarika, in GST. She graduated in film-making from the New York Film Academy. B.S. Nirmal Raj is credited with additional screenplay and dialogue. Cases of condom malfunction are uncommon, though not unheard of. It is likely that Sarika came across a real-life court case where a condom manufacturer was sued, or there was a real-life incident in her knowledge, that triggered the idea of the film. A headline in The Guardian, dated 23 January 2000, reads, ‘Mother claims £1,20,000 over split condom.’ Point is, the court-room drama that takes-up most of the second half, is the basis, and the rest of the film is written to lead to the same. Unfortunately, neither the first half nor the second half have the required gravitas to keep audiences rivetted.

We have seen umpteen films where, in a small town, a boy and a girl fall in love at first sight. There could have been drama on the counts of the differing ethnicities and the dowry expectations, but those factors are brushed off in a couple of lines. So what remains? Some wooing, some songs, some outdoor shots of Varanasi, some scooter rides, a bit of comedy, and they are man and wife. Sarika creates the character of a doctor, a gynæcologist, rather short in height, who wears a huge wig, and is a patron of the grocery shop. He seems to be the only gynæc around, so all the pregnancies are handled by him. He turns out to be a villain. Nanno’s father has a medical condition, which causes him to wink rather noticeably after every few seconds, at some very awkward moments, which are supposed to be comic or double entendre. Dialogue is often predictable and has many errors, like the use of ‘bavajood bhee’, which translates as ‘in spite of of’, the second ‘of’ being redundant. Similarly, ‘bavajood’ is enough. ‘bhee’ is redundant.

Sometimes, the actors seem to be under-rehearsed, or waiting for a prompt. Likewise, they hold their expressions after speaking their dialogue, as if waiting for the director to say “Cut”. Very good use is made of the stop-start technique, whereby actors suddenly appear or disappear in a frame. The wedding proposal meeting is especially commendable. Some liberties have been taken in the court scenes, which is not uncommon among Hindi films. We are given no background of the heroine—what did she study, what are her hobbies, what about her mother, how is it that a Gujarati father and daughter are living in Varanasi and enjoying a comfortable life merely on the income of YouTube videos, etc. Is Sarika making a film about a serious issue and a court-room drama or is she making a comedy, with the court-room patched on? The latter looks the correct option, what with the cartoon opening titles and the opening song, playback to funny expressions. Songs are meaningful and are well-used. Many of the gestures and dialogue are offensive, crude and vulgar.

Pratik Gandhi, who played Harshad Mehta in the TV series, Scam 1992 and has been acting in films, TV and web series since 2006, is Nanno/Narendra Tripathi. At 41, he is playing somebody who should be 25-26. Rather comfortable in front of the camera, with some good timing, he speaks the Varanasi Bhojpuri with a tinge of native Gujarati accent discernible. Interestingly, he is an engineer in real life and both his parents are teachers. Manish Raisinghan (not a typo, he writes it as Raisinghan, without the i at the end, which would make it Raisinghani, a common surname) is cast as Akash Chaudhary. Manish looks rather well-fed, and that hair must be a huge wig. Active in TV since 2004, part of several short films, this is his big break. He is just about okay. Hardly any scene poses a challenge. Whereas Akash is given much more footage in the first half, Pratik gets some good scenes in the second half. Avika Gor as Kavya Patel has to look coy in the early scenes and harangued in the latter. That should easy for an actress who impressed many as Anandi in Balika Vadhu (TV series, where she was seen as Anandi, during 2008-10). Now all of 25, she is a little plump but suits the character. Although her father occasionally breaks into Gujarati, she is not made to speak the language at all. Amazingly, she has done films in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and even in Kazakh language. Starting as a child star, she graduated to adult-ish, and, later, adult roles, 2013 onwards. Her Bollywood (heroine?) debut is named as 1920-Horrors of the Heart, scheduled for release later this year.

Rajesh Jais as Chaudhary, the school teacher, is shown teaching for about two minutes, during which scene a boy, from what appears to be class 6 or 7, stands up and says that he learnt that two men got married to each other in England. He has a couple of lines of lip-sync in the opening song and one scene where he thrashes Akash. For the rest, he is just part of the family. Competent acting. Gaurav Gera as Udit Narayan might have been named after the famed singer, but he should forget this film in a hurry. An atrocious wig adds to his ludicrous persona, hardly befitting that of a gynæcologist. The scene where Akash and Nanno come to his clinic and pretend to be homosexuals is in rank bad taste. Hemang Dave as Rasik Patel does a good job, his ample girth notwithstanding. As the grandpa Tripathi, Amit Singh Thakur has two real scenes: one in which he keeps repeating what the others say and the other when he spreads the rumour that the child Kavya is carrying is not Akash’s. Hardly a positive role, but can be excused because when you are 70 or 80, dementia and Alzheimer’s might have set in. He does look the part, though, very much.

Romil Chaudhary is cast as Rohan, the macho hunk who is very close to Kavya and at the centre of the controversy. Strangely, he is not seen at all after the controversy erupts, so no wonder his appearance has been billed as ‘special’. Romil fits the bill. Meenakshi Sethi as Akash's mother and Katyayani Sharma as Tina provide good support. Shyamlal, as Chakna, hams. Which brings us to the two veterans who are seen in the court: Aruna Irani as Karuna Razdan, a Supreme Court Advocate who holds the brief for the condom company, and Kanwarjit Paintal as Judge Pandey, officiating in District Consumers Forum. Aruna is graceful and forceful, as the scene demands. She has aged well, all of 76 now. Paintal, 74, a comedian by and large and an acknowledged mime artist, makes a curious casting as a Judge. He is made to go just that bit over-the-top, but when he is normal, he makes you forget that he is a comedian. An accomplished actor, he is still in fine mettle.

Kudos to Meet Bros and Anup Bhat for music and background music, and to Thakur for the lyrics. Cinematography by Faroukh Mistry is of the average type, capturing outdoors and indoors in standard hues. There are no great unusual angles, while the camera does shake a bit occasionally. Sanjay Sankla, the editor, lets the frame hold the action a bit longer than necessary, in most scenes. Moreover, the film would have been much crisper, had the first half been trimmed down by at least 10 minutes.

Kahani Rubber Band Ki is not the story of a rubber band, nor is it the story of a condom, which the ‘rubber band’ in the title indicates. It is basically the story of a man suing a condom company for a condom tearing during use, and causing an unwanted pregnancy. The bumbling Akash, who always ends up with a torn plastic bag and spills the contents, as shown in the first few scenes, is a complete mislead, and give you no idea of the shape of things to come. This is a film with a moral: precaution first, protection afterwards.

Rating: **

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJk3fee0o4Y

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/s7NwDVX
via gqrds

Pakistan summons US ambassador after Biden calls country 'dangerous' for having nuclear weapons

Pakistani officials said Saturday they had summoned the US ambassador to the country following recent comments made by President Joe Biden that doubted the safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

After Hurricane Ian left Cuba in the dark, protestors took to the streets. Now the government is set to charge them

Protestors in Cuba who have been taking to the streets after Hurricane Ian damaged the island's already faltering power grid could face criminal charges, Cuba's Attorney General's office said Saturday.

Iranian police looking into incident involving woman surrounded by officers in street

Video from Tehran has shown a large group of male security forces surrounding and grabbing a female in the street.

Iranian security official confirms fire at Evin prison, says situation is under control after social media footage emerges

A large, dark plume of smoke was seen billowing near Evin prison in northern Tehran in multiple videos on social media Saturday night.

Vancouver's air quality affected as several wildfires rage

Wildfires burning in British Columbia and Washington state have triggered an air quality advisory for metro Vancouver, according to a Metro Vancouver district press release.

Doctor G, review: A 124-minute operation, performed by a novice

Doctor G, review: A 124-minute operation, performed by a novice

G in the title could stand for ‘jee’, a suffix denoting respect, or for gynæcology. Neither is moniker material, so why title your film Doctor G? Because the protagonist is a male student of medicine and has his heart set on orthopædic studies and practice, but no seats are available in that branch of study and the only option is gynæcology. Pray, why the reluctance to study gynæcology? Because, he feels that, women prefer female doctors when they are looking for gynæcologists. And because his idol is man who is on orthopædic doctor. Add to that a breaking-up relationship, and you have a film. Or do you? Dr. G is the kind of film that moves from A to G, and stops there, without completing the alphabet by touching X, Y and Z. As a result, it turns out to be an unfulfilling experience and an unsuccessful operation.

 

Having completed his basic medical education, Uday ‘Guddu’ Gupta wants to specialise in orthopædic studies because a brother (probably a cousin) is a successful orthopædic doctor, and he himself had fractured his right arm shortly before school Board exams, and had to write his answers with his left hand. But there are no seats available in any medical college for this specialisation. Some seats are available, but they are in faraway towns, and he wants to study in his home town. After much effort, one seat is found, but it is taken by a female student. He goes and pleads with her to swap orthopædics with gynæcology, making way for him, but he gets a resounding “No”. He has no choice but to take the last gynæcology seat available, in the Bhopal Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS), a class in which all the other students are girls. This is his home town, and he can be close to his widowed mother, so he accepts.

 

Meanwhile, his relationship with his girl-friend continues to slide downwards, till it is a final break-up. He has only two ‘friends’ left in his life, a lodger in his house and his idol. The lodger, Chaddi, is making repeated attempts to pass the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), failing every time. His idol, (cousin) Dr. Ashok Gupta, happily married, with two children, is apparently having an affair with a 17- year-old pre-medical student. At the hospital-cum-college (BIMS), he is greeted by a strict Head of the Department, Dr. Nandini Shrivastav, and a bunch of seniors who rag him no end. But one of them, a doctor named Fatima Siddiqui takes a liking to him. Trouble is, she just about to be engaged. That she is a Muslim and he a Hindu does not bother Uday. There is more, serious trouble, as his heart is not into his studies. All the time, he reads books of orthopædics, in the hope that he will get a seat in orthopædics next year, and turns out to be bad gynæcology student, making repeated blunders during his training.

 

Doctor G’s story is written by Sourabh Bharat and Vishal Wagh. Four writers have collaborated on the screenplay: Sumit Saxena, Saurabh Bharat, Vishal Wagh and director Anubhuti Kashyap herself, her debut in both capacities. Dialogue is credited to Sumit Saxena alone. Sister of director Anurag Kashyap, Anubhuti has been around for over a decade, working in various capacities, in films and TV. Doctor G is not an impressive debut. The film starts on the wrong foot, with Uday having a heart-to-heart chat with Chaddi, who is always shown without a shirt on any innerwear covering his upper half. Probably a chaddi (underwear) is all he wears, and hence his name. We are spared close-ups of his lower anatomy, but no reason is given for his strange predilection. The end of the tête-à- tête is supposed to lead to a funny dialogue, which turns out to be risqué, not funny.

 

People keep telling him that he cannot really hear the voice of girls, and towards the end, he admits that he cannot. There is hardly any trait about him that is likeable or positive, so, why is such a character a protagonist? And if he cannot, how can he suddenly start listening to them. Where does that leave him? At the college/hospital, we are shown only practical training and no theory being imparted at all. Do medical colleges put students on duty without and theoretical training whatsoever? Further, he is accused of blundering in gynæcological cases because he has a “male touch”. Towards the end of the film, he declares, in a eureka moment, that he has lost the male touch, which should make things so much easier for him. Tell me another! Then there is the kiss between Uday and Fatima. A hell of a lot is made of that kiss, which, in present day and time, seems anachronistic.

 

Having chosen gynæcology as the theme, the makers have had a free license to insert all kinds of double entendre, and directly vulgar content. One of the female doctors is known as KLPD, an acronym used to show the plight of someone who is led on by a woman, and when he is in a state of excitement, she backs out. Of course there is an explanation. In this case, the acronym stands for KumudLatha Pamulparthi Diwakaran. In one scene, a couple complain of no issues in spite of frequent sex and no complications or shortcomings. As they leave, the woman drops a note in Hindi that reads, “He does not know how to do it (sanitised version).” Much is made of two things. Firstly, Uday insists that women prefer female gynæcologists. He might be partly right, but it is also true that some of the best gynæcologists in the country were and are men. And this is Bhopal, a Tier II city, not a Tier III town or a district. So his fear sounds unfounded. Secondly, his mother becomes active on social media and starts dating a single old man, which he finds unacceptable. Wake Up Sid…Uday, this is 2022. That her character is very poorly written is beside the point. One can go on listing the off-colour, even obscene scenes (double whammy?), but space is a constraint. 

 

A confused, sexist and dumb character is what Ayushmann Khurrana plays. His effort to infuse some life into the persona shows, but so does his own lack of conviction. Comely and fit, Rakul Preet Singh as Fatima makes a better impression, her’s and her fiancé Arif (Paresh Pahuja)’s roles are among the better written delineations. Though trademark sideways tilt of head, followed by a half nod, are back in place, Shefali Shah has learnt to avoid shutting her eyes in the process. She is a good piece of casting and one can expect to see Dr. Nandini in some medical college. Sheeba Chaddha as Shobha, Uday’s mother, looks lost and her dialogue delivery seems deliberate and a bit slurred. As Ashok Gupta, Indraneil Sengupta is impactful. Lending support are Akash Sinha as Jagdish Sahay, Devas Dixit as Pappu Sahu, Priyam Saha as Dr. Jenny, Shraddha Jain as Dr. KumudLatha Pamulparthi Diwakaran, Ayesha Kaduskar as Kavya, Puja Sarup as Nurse Sunita, Karishma Singh as Dr. Ruchi, Anju Gaur as Dr. Bosky, Sharvari Deshpande as Priyanka Singh, Vinod Kumar Jaiswal as Raj Sharma and Jhumma Mitra as Dr. Madhavi Gossain.

 

Most of the scenes are indoors and brightly lit. The few outdoors shots are well shot too, by Eeshit Narain. Editor Prerna Saigal must have had a lot of work to do to get it past the censors. Yes, they have been liberal, but a lot must have ended in the deleted bin too. Granted that the film was granted an Adults Only certificate, that should not have been construed as a gateway to insulting the viewers’ intelligence. At least 15 minutes of the film needed to be excised. There is a strong dose by way of songs in the movie, and the background score goes bang bang. Ketan Sodha is responsible for the background score, while the songs are credited to Amit Trivedi, Sultan Sulemani and Amjad Nadeem Aamir. As many as eight songs dot the soundtrack, clocking a hefty 27 minutes. One of them is an item number, that comes on after the end credits, with no connection to the film. For once, lyrics are overall well-written, which is at variance with the film itself. Lyrics come from the pens of Puneet Sharma, Kumaar, Raj Shekhar and Amjad Nadeem. 

 

Umpteenth take on When Harry Met Sally, made 33 years ago, this one supplants the two lead characters into a medical institute and plays up several side-tracks, possibly to conceal the source of the inspiration. Doesn’t succeed. What we see unfolding on the screen is 124-minute C-section operation, performed by a novice, green-horn doctor, who botches it up, and stitches up, without delivering the baby. Admittedly, the film has some moments that are watchable, even enjoyable. That is why the liberal rating.

 

Rating: **

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H42M6qfsjTk

 

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/3jJO7MU
via gqrds

40 killed, dozens trapped by explosion in Turkey coal mine

An explosion inside a coal mine in northern Turkey has killed at least 40 people and left 11 others hospitalized, state news media reported on Saturday.

Venezuelan migrants in shock and limbo after new US immigration plan

"The news hit me like a bucket of cold water," says Alejaidys Morey, a 30-year-old Venezuelan woman, who until this week was planning to start traveling towards the United States.

Police's tear gas main cause of death in Indonesia soccer stampede: investigators

A fact-finding team tasked with investigating a deadly soccer stampede in Indonesia has concluded that tear gas was the main cause of death in one of the world's worst stadium disasters, the country's security minister said on Friday.

More than 1 in 4 French gas stations out of at least one fuel

Some 28.5% -- nearly one third -- of gas stations in mainland France are out of stock of at least one fuel, French Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told journalists Friday.

Qatari Emir met with Putin to 'defuse tensions' between Moscow and Doha, source says

Qatar's Emir Tamim al-Thani met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday to "defuse tensions" between Moscow and Doha, a source familiar with the talks, but authorized to speak about them publicly, told CNN.

Iraq names new president and prime minister, ending a year of political deadlock

Iraq's parliament elected Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid as the country's new president on Thursday, ending a yearlong political stalemate that had turned violent over the summer.

Heating costs forecast to soar this winter

No matter how you heat your home, the cost of that heat is likely to soar, according to a forecast Wednesday from the Energy Information Administration.

Bloodshed shown in videos of Iran protests could just be the tip of the iceberg

Nearly a month after the start of nationwide protests, parts of Iran now bear the hallmarks of battle zones, with flares lighting up skies, gunfire ringing out and bloody scenes recorded in video footage.

Swimmer dubbed the 'Ice Mermaid' takes on challenge to swim the Seven Seas

When Barbara Hernandez was swimming for more than 35 kilometers across the North Channel, the strait between Northern Ireland and Scotland, the freezing waters and powerful currents were the least of her concerns.

Kim Jong Un talks up North Korea's nuclear threat after latest missile tests

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday warned adversaries his nuclear forces are fully prepared for "actual war," a day after the isolated country's latest launch in a recent flurry of missile tests.

Opinion: China had a system. Then along came Xi

Every decade or so, China's political system is wrenched by change. Some of these events are headline-grabbing -- the Tiananmen massacre of 1989 or the brutal crushing of the Falun Gong spiritual movement in 1999.

Iranian official admits that student protesters are being taken to psychiatric institutions

As women burn headscarves and cut off their hair in nationwide protests, an Iranian official on Tuesday said that school students participating in street protests are being detained and taken to mental health institutions.

US State Department says Iran nuclear deal 'not our focus right now'

The Iran nuclear deal is "not our focus right now," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday, noting the administration was instead focusing on supporting the protesters in Iran as efforts to restore the nuclear deal have hit yet another impasse.

American Siamak Namazi forced to return to prison in Iran after short furlough

American Siamak Namazi, who has been wrongfully detained in Iran for seven years, was forced to return to prison Wednesday after briefly being released on furlough, his family's pro bono legal counsel said in a statement.

'World's coolest' neighborhood for 2022 named

It's one of the best parts about a vacation -- that moment when you discover the side of the city that's clearly more popular with locals than tourists.

Aye Zindagi, Review: Goodness of human beings, greatness of cinema

Aye Zindagi, Review: Goodness of human beings, greatness of cinema

A very touchy, sensitive and polarising subject, Aye Zindagi (O Life) hits the right chords and sticks diligently to its theme and thrust. Based on an “incredible” true story, the film comes across as honest and well-crafted. One can feel emotions similar to those evoked by Anand, made 50 years ago, and Safar, before it, but, though both starred the new star on the horizon, Rajesh Khanna, both were works of fiction, and offered no light at the end of the tunnel. Aye Zindagi touches your soul, makes you cry at the plight of its two central characters, and yet leaves you with a glimmer of hope. This is good cinema, with no trappings or frills, so good that any ‘relief’, in the form of masala or comedy, is made redundant.

Named Revathy Rajan in the film, the actress plays a counsellor who approaches relatives of brain dead people to donate their organs for transplant into serious cases of organ malfunction, approaching organ failure. Into her consulting room in Hyderabad walks a young man in his twenties, called Vinayak ‘Vinay’. He has cirrhosis of the liver, though he is a teetotaler. It is in an advanced stage. He often bleeds from his nose, had a distended stomach, swollen feet, jaundice, skin blotches and falling hair. He is from Gwalior and works for a company in Lucknow. Having heard of the organ transplant company, called Mohan Foundation, he travels to Hyderabad, since they do not have any office in Lucknow. It is obvious that he needs a transplant soon, but he does not have the requisite funds—a transplant can cost between Rs. 20-30 lakh (2-3 million).

Vinay has lost his mother and his father is not highly placed. His brother Kartik, with whom he has a strained relationship, is studying to become a doctor. They both rally round him. Initially, his bosses in Lucknow take a strict view of his absences and frequent rushes to the wash-room, where he took refuge when he was bleeding. But gradually, the kindness in their heart is kindled, and they decide to support him financially as well as by keeping his job alive. All this is not enough, so a newspaper advertisement is issued, seeking contributions and a poster campaign is launched. Soon, enough money is raised. Then comes the crunch! When will a liver be available? Only livers from brain dead persons can be transplanted, and there is a waiting list of recipients. Once, he collapses in the hospital and is taken care of by nurse Manjula, who develops a liking for him, when he lands up in her ICU ward. The feeling is mutual, but shy and despondent Vinay does not have the courage to express his feelings. And then an incident turns Revathy’s world upside down.

That writer-director Anirban Bose is a real-life doctor should not come as a surprise, if you pay careful attention to all the medical terminology and procedures that are delineated in the movie. Dr. Anirban Bose is a nephrologist, who practices as an Inpatient Nephrology Attending at Strong Memorial Hospital. He is also the clinical associate professor at the University of Rochester in upstate NY. He is not only a doctor but also a musician, and enjoys writing. He has published three books, titled Bombay Rains-Bombay Girls, Mice in Men and The Death of Mitali Dotto. Bose got inspired and turned into a director by the true story of a gentleman he met at a fund raising event for organ donation by Mohan Foundation. He struggled for two years to find the right person to direct the film. Then he met producer Shiladitya (Bora), who said YES and things started rolling. In the search for a director, he felt that they were not 'grasping the essence as much as he was like one director that he met, wanted to make it a heart transplant story as it would be perhaps more emotional. So, he finally decided to direct it on his own. He then spent some time learning about film directing, writing, editing and many other aspects. And, O Boy, learn he did. And how!

As writer, Bose has played up the conflicts and simplified the organ donation process and the brain death protocols a little. Because, he says, if you make it very true to life, it, sort of, delays the experience or understanding of the elements. But to his credit as debutant writer-director, it does not appear to be his first film, and the conflict does not appear to have been played up. Moreover, though Revathy was always on his mind for the role of the counsellor, he has extracted excellent performances from some less known, even unknown actors. Almost all the actors have speaking parts and all fit-in and blend-in like a well-solved jigsaw puzzle.

Three things jarred a bit. First was the use of very loud songs in the first half and the use of songs themselves in the second half. This is no comment on the songs per se. Aye Zindagi would have worked fine, perhaps better, without any song. Secondly, Revathy’s husband is missing in the latter part of the film, at crucial times, when he should have been there, for no explicable reason. Otherwise there is little to fault in Bose’s direction. He uses the jump-cut superimposition, the shifting focus pan, the souped up action to save time on inanities, and many other standard directing techniques seen in the works of some accomplished directors. Don’t be surprised if he is invited to direct a couple of films in the near future. Lastly, there is the trace of faulty Hindi in Revathy’s speech, which is absent from the way her family speaks the language. It is heard in the speech of Manjula, making the character even more slice-of-life.                                                                                                                                                          

Revathy is a treat to watch. Her Hindi is almost perfect and the slight imperfection actually gives her more character. How much faith Bose has in her is obvious from the fact that he changed all the names of the true-life characters and actors, while retaining the real-life name of the actress. Just for the record, Revathy is one of the first celebrities to sign-up for organ donation. That must have given further boost to her characterisation. But then, in contrast, she is so convincing when, in a candid moment of introspection, she confesses that she never really felt the loss that she said she felt, while counselling families of brain dead individuals to sign-up. Satyajeet Dubey plays Vinay and shows tremendous maturity. He convinces in a host of situations and emotions, even when his countenance is grotesque, and when his persona evokes revulsion. One wonders why does he have only four feature films to talk about, in an 11-year career?

Cast as the nurse, Manjula, Mrinmayee Godbole mouths Malayalam, and the Malayalam-tinged Hindi accent and sentence construction, with flair. What she might lack in conventional good looks, she makes up by strong screen presence. Another actor who first appeared on screen in 2011, like Satyajeet. She has done mostly Marathi films, with the exception of Pad Man. You find another natural in Shrikant Verma, cast as Dr. Kapoor, Revathy’s boss. No information was available about the roles played by four other members of the cast, Sawan Tank, Hemant Kher, Pranjal Trivedi and Muskaan Agarwal. But the actor who played Vinay’s brother, Kartik and the actresses who played Revathy’s daughter and the nurse Nusrat, lend very good support.

Sound Design and mix by Adeep Singh Manki and Anindit Roy (C.A.S) is up to the mark generally, except when the songs come on full blast. Costume designer Shilpi Agarwal picks and designs the right apparel. Editor Suraj H. Gunjal has done a fine job. Scenes are crisply cut and inserts and split screen are imaginatively used. Length, at 104 minutes, goes well with the theme.

Director of photography Surjodeep Ghosh captures people and places, light and shade, with competence, with minimal and only necessary use of the drone camera. Many of the shots are up close and personal, as is the demand of the film. There are very few long shots.

Amidst all the action and animation, horror and sex comedies, item songs and epic battle dramas, Aye Zindagi comes like a whiff of fresh air. Although bleak for the most part, it is like life itself, which has fewer highs and greater lows. Be prepared to shed a few tears for the screen personalities you empathise with, but go back really enriched, your faith renewed in the goodness of human beings. It is not easy viewing by any means, but it engages you from the word go. Life is calling. Are you listening? The sub-title below Aye Zindagi says, ‘Life Finds a Way’. You should soon find your way to the nearest multiplex or any other cinema where it is playing. I welcome my first 4-star rating movie in a long time. It is not likely to have a very long run. But some movies are made because the makers (like producer Shiladitya Bora) had abundant passion to see them through, with no compromise whatsoever. Not very often does the goodness of human beings result in greatness of cinema. Here is one such instance.

Rating: ****

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=892DxAMnqIY

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/vgUGlXc
via gqrds

The last Covid holdouts in Asia are throwing open their doors for travel -- except for China

Across Asia, borders are opening and quarantine measures are lifting as even the last few countries clinging to Covid restrictions embrace a return to travel.

Aged 97, Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad is running for parliament again

Malaysia's 97-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad is to run for parliament in the country's looming general election, but is remaining tight-lipped on whether he could be prime minister for a third time.

Rights activists hail Venezuela's departure from UN Human Rights Council

Venezuela has lost its seat on the United Nations Council of Human Rights — a development hailed on Tuesday by activists and human rights defenders in Venezuela as cause for celebration.

Analysis: The Nobel offers a timely warning about central banks' power

The Nobel in economics is sort of the step-cousin of the Nobel family.

How not to run out of money in retirement

No one wants to run out of money before they die.

Gautam Adani was a college dropout. Now he may be too big to fail

On a late August evening in New Delhi, journalists' phones started buzzing with messages. Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate had just launched a hostile bid to take over an influential broadcaster in the capital.

Air France and Airbus charged with involuntary homicide for Rio-Paris crash in 2009

The trial of two of France's biggest companies began Monday over the crash of Air France flight 447 in 2009 that killed 228 passengers and crew.

Trailer launch of 1st Marathi multilingual film Har Har Mahadev: 300 against 12,000

Trailer launch of 1st Marathi multilingual film Har Har Mahadev: 300 against 12,000

ZEE Studios' released the trailer of their upcoming film Har Har Mahadev on 10 October at the PVR Cinemas, Juhu, Mumbai. The film is the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (King Shivaji), from the point of view of Baji Prabhu Deshpande, who was initially an opponent, but joined ranks with Shivaji later on. The trailer is trending high in the Tamil and Telugu versions. Har Har Mahadev (a battle cry among Hindu warriors) is being released in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

The film recreates the real battle in which 300 soldiers, led by Baji Prabhu, fought off the 12,000 strong enemy army, and won, albeit paying for the victory with their lives.

Produced by ZEE Studios and directed by Abhijeet Deshpande (a surname that he has in common with the warrior he has depicted), the film stars Subodh Bhave as Shivaji and Sharad Kelkar as Baji Prabhu Deshpande. Female leads are played by Amruta Khanvilkar and Sayli Sanjeev. All were present on the occasion, as were a couple of more co-stars, the co-producers of the film, Shree Ganesh Marketing and Films, represented by two individuals, and Shariq Patel, CEO of ZEE Studios. The film is all set to hit the theatres on the 25th of October 2022.

Abhijeet Deshpande was a student of mine many years ago, learning announcing, broadcasting, compering and dubbing, for stage, radio, TV and cinema. It was nice to see that he remembered and acknowledged. He then studied screenplay writing from Anjum Rajabali, whom he considers his guru. “I also admire the work of S.S. Rajamouli, the titan from the South, and Prakash Kapadia, who wrote Katyar Kaljat Ghuslee, Black, Devdas, Saawariya, Padmavat, Bajirao Mastani and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. Don’t even start asking me to speak about Rajamouli. I can go on for hours and hours. (Rajamouli works primarily in Telugu cinema. He wrote the screenplay of and directed Baahubali: The Beginning-2017, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, RRR-2022).”

Incidents and anecdotes were freely narrated on the occasion, and they included Abhijeet’s decision to shoot in a decrepit temple which was full of snakes; how Subodh Bhave learnt horse-riding for the part and how the horse he was to ride across a ditch managed to cross it in spite of an injured foot and a bed of sharp stones; how Subodh will not spend even a rupee from his earnings through the film as he firmly believes that Shivaji’s soul chose him to play the part; how Sharad Kelkar, who has already played Shivaji in another film, had no qualms whatsoever in accepting the role of a Shivaji supporter; how Raj Thackeray, the founder of the political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) readily agreed to lend his voice as the voice of the Sahyadri mountain range, which, in Abhijeet’s imagination, is the narrator of this tale, that they witnessed some 350-400 years ago; how Abhijeet has been working on this script since 2013; how his backers swore never to work with him again, after his first film, because they found him to be too difficult and very demanding, but just two scenes narrated by him convinced them to change their minds and come on board for Har Har Mahadev, and so on.

Har Har Mahadev is Abhijeet’s second film. His first was also a biopic, about the actor Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar. Titled Ani…(and) Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar, it was released in 2018. Starring Subodh Bhave in the titular role, it featured Amruta Khanvilkar in its cast. It was co-produced by Shree Ganesh Marketing and Films, as is Har Har Mahadev.

Replete with unimaginably gory violence, the trailer indicates that the film will be a full blown period war film, with rugged, mountainous terrain, hundreds (thousands? Or will CGI come to the rescue?) of horses and swords, and ruthless battles. It raises the eponymous battle cry loud and clear. And the sounds of Har Har Mahadev reverberated in the auditorium too, egged on by the lady compère, time and again.

The evening was unique in the manner that three languages were used by the compère, the speakers and the members of the press: Marathi, English and Hindi. Many of those on stage were comfortable in all three, but Bhave stuck to Marathi, because, in his words, it is the language he knows best. 

Trailer link: https://youtu.be/ACF6_JFgZm8

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/2oXCK39
via gqrds