[Reader-list] Film Screenings in February

[Chandni Parekh]

Chandni Parekh sent a message to members of Vikalp at Prithvi on facebook:

Hi all,

It's the anniversary month for Vikalp at Prithvi! Did you  know that we have been 
showing documentaries (and some short films) in  collaboration with Prithvi 
Theatre every month since Feb 2007 (with a  few months' break in '09)? 


A bit about yesterday's screening: 

One of the audience members (and there were so many of them... we had to turn 
away some!) sent us this today:

"Following  the screening of Lakshmi and Me and the short Marathi film, I'm glad  
that a lively discussion ensued between the filmmakers present and the  audience 
about the motives of the filmmaker, about the gaze and  objectivity, about when 
it is that the filmmakers blur the line between  them and the subject they are 
filming and the relationship between the  two. 


Nishtha Jain spoke candidly about her own approach and her  reflections after 
seeing the film after many years of it being made and  how she would or would 
not have approached the same subject today.  Audience was also interested in the 
blurring of lines between filmmaker  and subject, employer and maid and that of 
two friends in a certain  circumstance. 


A Canadian member of the audience was intrigued  with the idea of maids in 
Indian homes and how does that play out in the  visibility and invisibility of 
certain people around us and our  engagement with them. 


The film on onion prices and the strict  octroi regulations vis-a-vis terrorists 
entering the city and creating  havoc in people's lives - also led to 
discussions on the authenticity of  the use of language in a fiction film and 
the use of make-up on some of  the actors, who, according to a member of 
audience, did not look as  real with make-up on given the socio-economic 
background portrayed in  the film. 


Overall, the diversity of the questions from a mixed  bunch audience who get to 
interact with filmmakers is what makes  Vikalp at Prithvi a monthly must-attend 
film screening in the city."

Thanks, Kabir! :)

Anyone who wants to buy a DVD of 'Lakshmi and Me' should mail 
raintreefilms at gmail.com.

And now for info on alternative films being shown in India this month: 

'In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones' by Pradip Krishen, Feb 2, Delhi

'The Sicilian Girl' by Marco Amenta (Italian), Feb 2 and 5, Delhi

'You Don’t Belong' by Spandan Banerjee, Feb 4, Pune

'Hämnden' ('The Revenge') by Charlotte Brändström (Swedish), Feb 4, Delhi

'Sabad Nirantar' by Rajula Shah, Feb 5, Pune

'Return to Gorée' by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud (French), Feb 6, Pune

'Persistence Resistance' - A Festival of Films, Feb 7-10, Delhi

'Evening Classes' and 'Parade' by Jacques Tati (French), Feb 9, Bombay

'Escape from the Call Center' by Federico Rizzo (Italian), Feb 9 and 12, Delhi

'Swimming In Air' by Janice Tanaka, Feb 10, Delhi

Alpavirama 2011 - South Asian Short & Documentary Film Festival, Feb 18-20, 
Ahmedabad

Bring Your Own Film Festival 2011, Feb 21-25, Puri, Orissa

'The Man Who Saved The Taj Mahal' by Jay Bajaj, Feb 26, Delhi

Vikalp at Prithvi Anniversary Screening of 'Inshallah, Football' by Ashvin Kumar, 
Monday, Feb 28, 7 pm, Prithvi House, Juhu, Bombay

For details, check the Discussion Board on the facebook group.

- Chandni