The in-competition Cairo 678’s prints did not make it in time. So it was substituted by Adoor Gopalkrishnan’s Kathapurusham. Even better I thought. The print was clean, which enhanced the experience by several notches. A love story set amidst the Marxist revolution. I wish Adoor Gopalkrishnan’s films become as easily available on DVD as Ray’s.
Up next was another in-competition film, the Iranian Kiss of Rain. About a poor boy who steals to buy a mandatory gift for his fiancée nut later mends his ways. Politely put, don’t expect this one to win the grand prize.
This year, under a section called European Connection, the Asian Film Fest is featuring several films by the Polish director Jan Jakub Kolski. One of them is Venice, about a home that houses wives and children of men fighting in the World War II. They have turned their flooded basement into a mini-Venice where they live out their fantasies. Though the film had several memorable scenes, overall I felt it was too cluttered and unfocussed.
Many sagging days at film festivals are perked up for me by a Dan Wolman film. Today was no different. His Valley of Strength was about a lot of things – Jews migrating to Palestine, a hard life on arid land, conflict between the Arabs and the Jews and a hideous secret. Even though this was the last show of a tiring day, not once did I feel drowsy. The best part is that Wolman is always around after his film for a chat. As I left, I saw him engaged in conversation with someone else. I’ll wait for my turn next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment