Do you thumb down films made purely for lightweight escapism? Do you scoff at films that lack artistic credibility? Then this film festival might just do the trick. Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy and the Government of Karnataka are presenting the second Bangalore International Film Festival this January. It will showcase 110 critically-acclaimed films spread over a week from over 40 countries.
Here are a few must-watch films:
The Lives of Others: Is your private life really private? This Academy award winner by Florian Donnersmarck makes you think deep when a successful playwright is constantly being monitored by the socialist regime.
Lovers of the Arctic Circle: Julio Medem’s multi-layered film explores chance and destiny in the lives of two lovers. Arresting cinematography and a haunting sound track.
Blow-up: This Michelangelo Antonioni film examines the existential nature of reality. A bored high fashion photographer takes to documenting the seamy side of London and gets caught in a murder mystery.
Turtles Can Fly: This Bahman Ghobadi film is a wrenching tragedy and an amusing comedy revolving around children of refugees.
Balkan Brothers: Encounter raw racism in Bozidar ‘Bota’ Nikolic’s film that shows a crippled war merchant’s drug smuggling racket involving people he hired from war-torn ex-Yugoslavia to sew labels on fake jeans.
A Letter of Fire: Asoka Handagama’s film about a shaken aristocratic family after their 12 year-old son gets accidentally involved in the murder of a prostitute.
Vertical Rays of the Sun: Anh Hung Tran’s film about a buffalo boy in Vietnam raping a woman who later turns out to be his real mother.
It’s a sensitive cinematic hug this New Year’s.
Jan 3-10. Films being screened at Vision Cinemas Complex and KH Patil auditorium, KH Road and Suchitra auditorium, 9th Main Road, B V Karanth Road, Banashankari 2nd Stage. Delegate passes (Rs 500) issued at the Suchitra Film Society office in Banashankari (Ph: 26711785). For the detailed schedule, visit www.suchitrafest.in.
