Closing Day, IFFK

Didn't see any films today. 33 films have taken a toll on me. I went to the closing ceremony in the evening where the prize distribution too was held. Here's the list:

Survarna Chakoram (Best Film): Angel's Fall and Forever Flows.

Rajata Chakoram (Best Director): Fireworks Wednesday.

Rajata Chakoram (Best Debut Film): Sankara.

Audience Prize Rajata Chakoram: The Violin.

FIPRESCI (The International Federation of Film Critics): Sankara.

NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Film Centre): Forever Flows.

So the last of the film festivals come to an end. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the movies and meeting new people. Eagerly waiting for next year's event.

DAY7, IFFK

So its the penultimate day of the festival. And once again the strikes are going to play spoilsport. Its a 24 hour strike and all the public transport systems have stopped. Fortunately got a lift to Kairali Theatre where T V Chandran's Aadum Koothu was screening. Like most of his films, this one too is well narrated. Cheran, Prakash Raj and Navya Nair have all given good performances. But I somehow feel the movie should have ended fifteen minutes early. The audiences seem to have loved the movie very much and it wouldn't be surprising if it turns out to be a hit when it's released.
In the afternoon I saw two documentaries and a short film. First documentary Blue Sun Green Moon. was about noted writer Ayyappa Panikker. It's informative but technically not sound. Second was a feature documentary Thousand Days And A Dream. The documentary is about the struggle of people of Plachimada against the Coca Cola Company. Very well made and highly informative. My only advise: SHOW THIS TO AAMIR KHAN, RADHIKA & SMRITI IRANI. And then ask them do they still care about HUMANITY?? The short film Life Is A Diamond was made by a young South African lady. Cannot comment on it because I couldn't understand the story and technically it wasn't sound either.
Evening I saw the movie Anantharam by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Amazing movie. Well scripted, well photographed, and well edited and ofcourse very well directed. The best thing is that the story structure is in a non-linear pattern. The child artist did a amazing job.
The day ended after watching Bernie, a film by Albert Dupontel. Though I liked his earlier two movies but this one was a complete let down. High on violence it almost made me puke. The story is about a orphan (Albert Dupontel) who after spending 30 years of his life in an orphanage goes in search of his parents. And then starts his violent search for his parents. And in his search he just about butcher anyone who comes in his way. Already feeling bad. Must stop here.

DAY6, IFFK

After not so good experience at Kairali theatre, I thought of spending the day at Kripa theatre. First movie on the list was The Creators by Albert Dupontel. The movie is about a play writer whose previous play was a huge success. He attributes his success to drinking which according to him makes his subconscious mind to bring out the best of plays. After he realizes this isn't the reason, he tries different methods including killing cats to evoke his subconscious. The movie has been dealt in a very humorous way with a cameo from Jesus Christ who comes as a police officer. Fun to watch. Next on the list was the critically acclaimed Mexican movie Battle in Heaven. The movie is about a car driver, Marcos. Marcos is the driver to the General's daughter, Ana. A very confusing movie is what I felt after watching it. Didn't go for any afternoon show. Evening went for an African movie Bamako. I had seen many movies involving court room drama like Rainmaker, The Accused, A Few Good Men etc. but never as this one. This movie is about a hearing happening in an open court in a remote town in Africa. The case is between Africans vs World Bank, IMF and other financial institutions which "helped" them. Even when the court proceedings are going on, other activities of people in and around the court is shown. The court proceedings are aired live through the radio. With some excellent dialogues, this movie is must watch for those who like court room drama and are also concerned with current scenario in the Third-World countries. There's a song in this movie which is quite catchy. I hope OST of this movie is available.
Final movie of the day was Scream of the Ants by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. I had seen the movie The Cyclist by the same director. It was an awful experience. My friends will vouch for that. I saw Scream of the Ants after hearing that it's a very good movie. The movie is about two Iranian couples who comes to India in search of a Complete Man. The movie begins well but it does what it shouldn't: PREACHING. A German yogi explains how different religions comprehend when the male lead says the "world is a shit". It was funny. Highly "philosophical" and "spiritual". Also it's a cliche, portraying Indians the same way as it had been done by many foreign movies. Also I don't understand why the audience applause after every second dialogue. It's so irritating. They must realize and sooner the better that they are watching just a movie not a political debate. So the count is 27 from 6 days.

DAY5, IFFK

After watching 18 movies I realized I haven't still any of the 14 films included in the festival competition list. I thought watching just competitive films today. Started with The Violin. The movie is simply amazing, portraying the struggle of the peasants against the Mexican army. A black & white with a bit of added grains, this is one of the best movie I have seen in the competition till now. The next one was Angel's Fall. Though the movie didn't appeal much to me, I felt I missed a point or two because the movie had a non-linear story structure. Should have watched it more carefully. The third was a Japanese movie Whispering Of Gods. Really pathetic movie to watch. Imagine a scene where when a man pukes, the man standing next to him say "YUMMY". Yuck!!!. The howling from the jam packed audiences at the end made some sense. After watching this movie I felt somewhat uneasy and was having a bit of headache. I waited for my aunt to come to watch the screening of T V Chandran's Aadum Koothu. I waited outside as I had her entry pass. I went inside to check out whether any seat was available. To my horror it was completely occupied even the floors weren't spared. I stood there and saw the felicitation ceremony. Mr. T V Chandran introduced his team viz. cinematographer Madhu Ambatt, Editor Venugopal and others. As he was introducing came in the lead actress Navya Nair. There was howling all around because of her being late. She then apologized for it but certain section didn't spare her and the howling continued for her embarrassment. It was a pity sight. Atleast the audience should have shown some dignity after she had apologized. I walked out of the hall after the felicitation. I went straight to Kalabhavan to watch The Lovers by Louis Malle. Fifteen minutes into the movie, I walked out again because of headache. Later on in the night I went and saw a documentary Yakshagana and a movie Ellipathayam, both by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The movie started well but the end wasn't so satisfactory. So the count is 23 movies in 5 days. Not bad eh!!

DAY4, IFFK

Record breaking performance by me...saw SIX movies today. At the end of 4th day, I've already seen 18 movies. Not bad. The day started by viewing of Look Both Ways by Sarah Watt. The producer of the movie was felicitated before the movie began. When I saw her, I realized she was the lady who sat beside me for the screening of Black Eyed Dog. The movie begins with a fatal accident of a kid by a freight train. The story is then interlinked between the witness of the accident, the train driver, reporter & photographer who covered the accident and the victim's mother. Well the movie is very good because of its narrative style. It contains animation which the director herself had drawn. And it had an interesting montage sequence when the reporter realizes he is affected by cancer. Second movie was supposed to be Bamako but it got replaced by Safarina which later on got replaced by Yesterday and which got replaced by Cry, The Beloved Country. Except for Bamako rest of all the films were directed by Darrell Roodt, which was directed by Abderrahamne Sissako. So after so much of changing I was waiting (fingers crossed) for the screening to begin. And good for me they showed Cry, The Beloved Country which I anyway thought of watching during this week. A well written and superbly photographed movie is what you realize after watching this movie. In the afternoon I went and saw Locked Out by Albert Dupontel. A hilarious movie in which the lead role was enacted by Dupontel himself. The narrative style or to be more precise the editing style reminds you of Amelie and Love Me If You Dare. Thoroughly enjoyable. Evening I saw Climates. Well this was a critically acclaimed movie. Must say couldn't like the movie much. The movie is about the relationship between a research professor and his costume designer wife. A slow paced movie but it has some of the best locations which I haven't yet seen. In the night saw a documentary by Adoor called Guru Chengannur. Well it could have been better. It was followed by Adoor's movie Kathapurushan. As pointed out yesterday I just love watching this movie because of its simplicity.

DAY3, IFFK

Today was some kind of a record for me. I saw 5 movies at the theatres. Starting from Yesterday by Darrel Roodt. Its first movie to be made in the Zulu language. Second one was a thriller Cache. Its a movie which you should watch from the very first frame to the very last frame else you surely gonna miss the plot. The storyline made me remind of another great movie called Battle For Algiers. Watch out for one of the most gruesome scene of alltime in the movie Cache. Excellent movie. Third movie was Black Eyed Dog, a Canadian movie. Interesting movie but couldn't link myself to the characters. Fourth one was the much awaited movie Paradise Now. Interestingly I had to sit on the steps to watch the movie. And I wasn't alone, there were 20 others sitting on the stairs to watch the movie. Some even stood and saw the entire movie. I must add that it was first film at this festival where not even a single audience left the hall till the movie got over. It starts with two friends (Palestinians)being recruited to perfoem suicide bomb attack in Tel-Aviv. Nothing more..watch it and enjoy it.
I must say I was dead tired after watching four movies and so was not interested to go for the fifth and the last movie of the day. But somehow I made myself to the theatre as I had heard from many that this was Adoor's best movie and best performance by an actor ever. The movie is Kodiyettam. I must say Bharat Gopi is indeed Kodiyettam Gopi. The minute details that has gone in creating the character is mind boggling. The story is about a village simpleton played by Gopi. He is dependant on his caring sister who works as a maid servant in the cities. The problem begins when his sister stops sending him money after she gets married and to add more to his misery, his wife (KPAC Lalitha) too leaves him because of his careless attitude. Must see movie. One things for sure I realized is that after a hectic day of movie watching, its always good to finish with Adoor's movie. Tomorrow they are going to screen Kathapurushan which I've seen thrice on TV and once at the theatre but still I'll see that movie again tomorrow.

DAY2, IFFK

Well I started the second day in a very promising note. First film was Something Like Happiness. A well made film about the problems faced by three families in an apartment. The story is woven in and around these families and more specifically around a young lady Monika.
The second film was Persona Non Grata . The funny thing was that I was actually waiting for an Australian movie Look Both Ways but maybe because of the unavailability of the print, they played this movie. And it was a blessing in disguise as I would have missed this wonderful movie. Moreover I can watch the Aussie movie on 13th when it'll be screened again as per the schedule.
Evening I went for the inaugural of the Adoor Gopalakrishnan's retrospectives. The chief guest was Minister for Culture, Mr. M A Baby. The programme started about 10 minutes late. The guests included stalwarts from Indian cinema like Girish Kasaravalli and Gautham Ghosh. At around 30 minutes into M A Baby's speech about Adoor Gopalakrishnan, suddenly a young lady shouted aloud "Can you just start the movie". It was followed by claps from few guys. Most of the audience were just stunned. But Mr. Baby took the comment in a sporting way and carried on his speech for 5 more minutes. He said it was the organizers who wanted him to speak for such a duration and he doesn't have any intention to bore the people. I felt very bad for the minister as he was giving a very good speech about the cinema and I must say he does indeed know about the cinema. He spoke about his days as the college union arts club secretary and criticism of the left movement in Adoor's film.
The function was followed by screening of Adoor's first film Swayamvaram.

International Film Festival of Kerala Begins

Today 11th IFFK began. Though the inaugural function was held in the evening, the screening of the shows began at 9.00 in the morning. The first film was French Fried Vacation by Patrice Leconte. One word for it: CRAP. One might have seen n number of American movies like Screw Balls so on to the more famous British series like Carry On.. Wonder why such a film was kept and that too as the first film of such a prestigious event. The second and third were documentaries by Louis Malles. Though many were annoyed due to lack of subtitles still I felt both the movies were engrossing enough. The first one was Human Condition. It shows the condition of men and women working in a car manufacturing plant. Infact at times one wonder whether they are humans or just machines doing the same job again and again and again and again....phew. Great documentary. Second was even better one. The title is The Pursuit Of Happiness. It deals with the lives of people emigrated to USA both legally and illegally. People from almost every continent of the world was included. Though the narration was French, it hardly mattered as conversation between the interviewer and emigrants was in English. Another great documentary.
In the evening I attended the inaugural function. The function was held at Nisagandhi auditorium which is an open air auditorium. Filmmakers, actors and other people who were part of the early film making movement in Kerala were felicitated at this function by the Minister for Culture Mr. M A Baby. Later on a dance choreographed by Soorya Krishnamoorthy consisting of 250 artists showing various art forms of Kerala was shown.
After the felicitation ceremony, the inaugural film Songs of Sand by Marion Hansel was screened. The movie deals with the condition of people in remote war ridden African country. It begins with a tribal family moving out of their native place in search of water and the problems they face through the passage from the rebels and the soldiers and more importantly the hot desert. A touching movie and the applause it recieved from the jam packed auditorium said it all. Must watch movie.