-Brian Mendonca
After a feast of films today, tomorrow promises to be no less exciting. Here’s a preview of what’s happening tomorrow (23-11-23) at iffi54.
In the International Competition category we have The Other Widow, a film from Israel by Maa’yan Rypp. How does one grieve for a lover who dies suddenly? Ella attends the Jewish mourning ritual and sees life in a different light. The film is in Hebrew.
In the Indian Panorama section there is a feature film as well as a non-feature film tomorrow. In the feature film category one can view Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2 in Tamil. The plot focusses on Nandini who is banished for her love of Prince Karikalan of the Chola dynasty and how she exacts revenge.
In the non-feature film category, watch 1947: Brexit India directed by Sanjivan Lal. This is a documentary which reflects on Mountbatten’s decision to split India in 1947. Experts discuss Britan’s decolonization and India’s path to Independence.
The Indian documentary has come of age. Listen to 5 leading documentary film-makers talk on the subject ‘Indian Documentary on the World Stage.’ In conversation will be Kartiki Gonsalves of Elephant Whisperers, R.V. Ramani, Miriam Chandy, Sai Abishek, and Nilotpal Majumdar.
The category UNICEF at IFFI is represented by the Iranian film For the Sake of Ana directed by Mohsen Seraji. Ana, the lead actress of a theatre ensemble is denied a passport. The group tries to find various means to make this happen.
There is an animation film from India tomorrow for the child in you. Dr. Minestein directed by Sonali Jawale is about Dinku the donkey who rescues the forest from burning.
Who has not heard of Bees Saal Baad directed by Biren Nag in 1962? In the Restored Film Classics section Kumar returns (once again) to his ancestral land, but is haunted by the sounds of a woman in distress.
In the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director category Reger Azad Kaya enters the Syrian film When the Seedlings Grow in Arabic. The film is set against the backdrop of the Kobane war and revolves around the lives of Hureya and Zelal who sell yoghurt.
In the category Accessible India director Kabir Khan offers the film 83. The film is in accessible Indian sign language and recreates the world cup cricket win by India in 1983.
Competing for the ICFT Unesco Gandhi prize is It’s Sira from Burkina Faso. The prize is awarded to a film which promotes tolerance, intercultural dialogue, and the culture of peace. Sira, a nomad, is abducted and abandoned in the desert after her fiancé Jean has been killed. Sira fights back with tenacity.
In the Cinema of the World section there is Bela America from Portugal; Seventh Heaven from Croatia; Fight like a Girl from Rwanda; Toxic from the Czech Republic, and Commandante from Italy. In the Polish film The Peasants Jagna, a peasant girl is forced to marry the wealthy farmer Boryna, although she is in love with his son Antek.
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Broadcast on national hookup as part of iffi report by Akashvani, New Delhi from 10.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on 22 November 2023. Generated by Akashvani, Panaji, Goa. Received on 105.4 FM Rainbow, Panaji, Goa.
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