From the dark side of the hall – Notes from IFFK 2009 Page 1

Ram V   | Festivals & Contests, Talking-Points | December 18, 2009 at 7:41 am         Print

If you must attend a film festival in India, it should be IFFK; all the venues are at 5-10 minutes distance from each another, amazing audiences, well spaced screenings, superb organization and excellent line up of films… a sumptuous Kerala feast for the hungry cinema-fans…

The 14th Edition is perhaps the best till date in terms of logistics, everything went on like clockwork, and that I was left wondering where are those troublemakers who broke the queue, gate crashed into reserved area? All of a sudden, for just this week, for just cinema’s sake, Malayalis became impeccable patron Saints of art…

12 Dec 2009
9.00 a.m.

Treeless Moutain, South Korea

So Young Kim captures the innocence and beauty of childhood, in the cute tear jerker. The simple world of children is lost, in the complexities and shortcomings of the grown-ups.

The director showcases exceptional understanding of a childs psychology, and behaviour. Jin and Bin change hands, from their mother to their paternal aunt, as mom leaves in search of a better life. Their aunt herself is a victim of the society, trying to meet ends with any available means. Jin and Bin find themselves doing chores, begging salt at her house. They keep waiting endlessly for their mom to return, as promised, when the piggy bank is full.

The aunt is forced to hand over them again, to their maternal grandfather, who refuse to accept them them, but only to be taken into the caring wings of their grandmother. Jin puts and end to their wait, and begin to see life as it is. She shows signs of taking up responsibility and care for the younger Bin, and decide to live on…

A must watch.

Dec 12,2009
2.30 pm

Birzhan Sal, Kazakhstan

If only God had hired this photographer, would not the world sprout some extra beauty…

Never has the screen lit with such amazing images, exquisite hash brownie treats for the muddled soul. The Kazakh film makers Doshan Zholzhaksynov, Rymbek Alpen have painstakingly filmed this magnum opus. It presents a slice from the life of Birzhan Turlybaiuly Kozhagulov, the greatest poet and singer of the steppes.

Story of Birzhan is also the story of his songs and the story of his wife Sara and love Leylim. We break into the first shot with breathtaking visuals of a band of men hunting the wild dog. One of these men is the legendary Birzhan. The Nomadic singer, travels through the lands, with a band of talented men, exhibiting their skills, winning over wealth, also the hearts of men and women.

The Russian expansion over the region is evident. Kazakh people are at mercy of the much better organized and unified masters. The local rivalry and lack of unity is the strength of the oppressor. But this film is not a political statement, rather a visual poem on the protagonist’s emotional and social condition, where politics inevitably plays villain.

Birzhan is in love in Leylim, but the envious and megalomaniac Aznabai, is wary of the talented Birzhan. He would love Birzhan, but only as his slave, not a free spirit. The rich and powerful Aznabai, plots and fixes match with Leylim’s uncle for her hand. Lovelorn, Birzhan and Leylim meet in secret, but do not decide to elope, fearing the wrath of Aznabai.

Following is a tale of how, politics and power could destroy the person who is an artist, but the art itself lives on and on for ever-after…. A heavenly spectacle of nature towards the climax awaits the viewer…