SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL - List of films with synopsis

SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL for shorts and docs 2011, Chennai
List of films and Synopsis

1) Shorts films from BURUNDI (curated by Paul Lee, supported by Burundi Film Centre, Canada)

PIGFOOT
Aster Ntirampeba, Burundi, 2010, 7 minutes, colour, drama, in Kirundi with English subtitles.
A porter in Bujumbura tries to make a name for himself by working at a slaughterhouse.

MISSION: MONTRÉAL
Natacha Songore, Burundi, 2010, 9 minutes, drama, in Kirundi with English subtitles.
Lionel sells out his family and friends in a desperate attempt to move to Canada.

KNOCK KNOCK (WHO’S DEAD?)
Grâce Nzeyimana, Burundi, 2010, 11 minutes, colour, drama, in Kirundi with English subtitles.
A morbid comedy following Rukwi’s botched attempts to earn a living by collecting the dead.

THE RETURN OF OLD MAN KABURA

Patrick Ngendakumana, Burundi, 2010, 7 minutes, drama, in Kirundi with English subtitles.
An 82-year-old refugee comes home to Burundi, and tries to rebuild his life after 38 years in exile.

EASY CALL
Angelo Arakaza, Burundi, 2010, 9 minutes, drama, in Kirundi with English subtitles.
A young woman’s foray into prostitution brings shocking consequences to her family.

2) Films from MAGIC LANTERN FOUNDATION, New Delhi

It's Cricket, No?
Director: Gregory French, Sudhir Aggarwal ; English (subtitled), 30 min, 2010, India

In a world away from bright stadium lights, far away from multimillion-dollar franchises, a unique brand of Indian cricket is making history in its own way. Follow the Indian National Blind Cricket Team as they chase their dream to be the greatest national side India has ever produced. To play for country, honour, passion. It's cricket, no?

My Mother India
Director: Safina Uberoi ; English (subtitled), 52 min, 2001, Australia

‘My Mother India’ is a passionate film told by the child of a mixed marriage and set against the tumultuous backdrop of modern Indian history. With an Indian father who collects kitch calendars, an Australian mother who hangs her knickers out to dry in front of the horrified Indian neighbours, a grandfather who was a self-styled Guru and a fiercely man-hating grandmother - it is no wonder that Safina Uberoi made a film about her family!What begins as a quirky and humorous documentary about an eccentric, multicultural upbringing unfolds into a complex commentary on the social, political and religious events of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 which tore this family apart.

Lokapriya

Director: Arun Khopkar; English (subtitled), 30 min, 2000, India

A journey in to the heart of the Hindi film music industry- its sounds, lyrics, beats, notes and the people who bring them all together.

Rasikapriya
Director: Arun Khopkar; Englsih (subtitled), 30 min, 2000, India

Rasikapriya’ undertakes the challenge to visualize the poetry and notes of the raagas of Indian classical music.

Adha Aasman - Women’s access to healthcare
Director: Samina Mishra; English (subtitled), 32 min, 1996, India

Heera Deepa and Susheela work the fields, cut grass, tend cattle, and care for their families. They contribute as much as men to sustenance of their families and the economy of their villages. But their labour is rarely recognised as work. The reason is as inescapable as it is simple – they are women. And so, they never stop working even when they are sick, and never have their sickness taken care of till the work begins to suffer. Women’s health in India continues to be seen in the restricted light of pregnancy and motherhood so that health initiatives for women focus mainly on family planning and maternal health. Shot in Almora and Sitapur districts in Uttar Pradesh, this is a film about the attitudes that deny women their share of healthcare.

3) Short films and Documentaries from National Institute of Design, Ahmedbad - curated by Arun Gupta, NID.

1. DOPAHAR (Hindi / 16 mins) - Directed by Siddharth Gautam Singh

A summer afternoon, a lonely homemaker, an unexpected guest, mango pickles and memories...

2. CHAATTALMAZHA (Malyalam / 16 mins) - Directed by Ahsam KR A film that celebrates childhood through a day in Geetu’s life. Shot in lush green Kerala, this film also celebrates the rain. Geetu, a sober and relatively quiet girl who is quite particular about her appearance and punctuality, slowly breaks all rules just to fulfill her small desires. The drizzle resembles the spontaneity of a child.

3. IS MODH PAR KUCH NAHI HOTA (Hindi / 22 mins) - Directed by Hitesh Kewalya
In life there are many times when nothing much is happening. In this monotony of life, almost habitually, we look at only the larger picture and forget about the little joys life has to offer.

4. POLLENA KATHE (Tulu / 15 mins) - Directed by Udayraj PJ

This film is inspired by Tulu folktales. It uses popular motifs, legends and symbols used in the Tulu region. It is an attempt to create a folk film. Pollena Kathe is the story of Polla a young man in the village who believes folktales to be real. Batru, is the temple priest, one of Polla's very few friends. Batru starts believing in Polla's tales and they embark on a treasure hunt. It turns out to be a wild goose chase.

5. GULLAK (Hindi / 19 mins) - Directed by Manish Saini Gullak tells the tale of little Dipu and Chini's struggle to pay off their debt to the local bully. Times are tough, but Chini finds a piggy bank to help them save money. With their grandfather’s help, the children begin collecting cash in the hopes of escaping Gagan, their tormentor. But will the "Gullak" help them or will it eat up all their savings?

6. WORDS IN STONE (Hindi/Urdu/Gujarati/ 22 mins) - Directed by Akhila Krishnan
In the 17th century, a poet called Wali Gujarati was the first to begin writing ghazals in the Urdu language… His influence on this form of verse and on Urdu can be compared to that of Chaucer’s on the English language. But he was ironically enough forgotten, till his tomb was destroyed in the communal riots that took place in Ahmedabad in 2002.

7. TRAN EKA TRAN (Gujarati / 19 mins) - Directed by Aastha Gohil
Tran eka tran (three ones a three) is a documentary film about a teacher, a nurse and a young girl. The film shows each one of them pursuing their personal dreams and ambitions. It’s about three people living in a locality and how their lives and dreams cross each other’s.

8. PRAKASH TRAVELLING CINEMA (Hindi, Gujarati / 14 mins) - Directed by Megha Lakhani

'Prakash Traveling Cinema', attempts to capture the spirit of an age old medium of entertainment through a bioscope film projector owned by two friends who share a deep friendship, unceasing optimism and most of all, an undying passion for their traveling cinema.

9. PURNA VIRAMA (12 mins) - Directed by Ujjwal Utkarsh
We observe a cold blooded systematic, rhythmic breaking down of a “bus”.

10. PATTUPETTI (Malyalam / 14 mins) - Directed by Magesh Kolleri
In 1944, Premalekhanam, was banned in the princely state of Travancore, Kerala. In the course of history various assaults have been been made on the right to freedom of expression. Our tributes to the thinkers who defied curbs and our raised fists against social norms that dare restrict our space as artists. To them we dedicate this cinema.

MARUPAKKAM Travelling Package (from Madurai Film Festival!)

1) The Tape; Dir: Jorge M. Rodrigo; Spain; Short film; 19 min; 2010

Should you find a tape in your mail box sent by yourself from the future? Don’t you think listening to it would change your life forever?

2) Interior Landscapes; Dir. Gabriel Folgado; Spain; Documentary; 2010

The film tells the story of mining industry in El Barso, an area located in the Spanish province of Leon. Three generations of miners from the same family unfold the secrets of what it means to be a miner. We glimpse the reality of a group of people who share not only a job. But also a special way of life.

3) Thattum Porathappan; Dir. P. Sudevan; Malayalam; Short film; 56 min; 2010

A young man injured from intervening a political riot by the way of seeking a shelter comes to a house possessed by a little dunce son and his diseased mother. The rest of the events eventually lead a true vision of today’s political and social life of Kerala.

4) The Last Script: Remembering Luis Bunuel; Dir: Gaizka Urresti, Javier Espada; Spain; Documentary; 85 min; 2008

One of the most important filmmakers of all time, Luis Bunuel was also one of the most fascinating and universal personalities of the 20th century. Jean-Claud Carriere – friend and script writer- and Jaun Luis Bunuel – son and artist- travel to the places in Spain, France, Mexico and the U.S. which were important for the life and imaginary of Bunuel and recount his visions as well as his private and professional life, with unpublished photos and footage material.

5) Mugamoodiye Mugam; Dir: R.R.Srinivasan; Tamil; Documentary; 60 min; 2006

Faces become masks and masks become faces at the annual temple festival of Kulasekarapattinam.

6) Radiation Stories; Dir. Amudhan R.P.; Tamil; Documentary; 54 min; 2010

Lush green ambiance of Kanyakumari district, in southern India conceals the artificially created radioactive sand dunes and large number of radiation related deaths and illness. Trucks carry around radioactive sand across villages and towns through out the day and night. Ponds, rivers, plants, trees, our crew and shooting equipment all can be possibly radioactive.

Even this documentary can be radioactive. Some call it natural radiation. Some call it man-made radiation. But there is radiation; for sure.

7) Do Din Ka Mela; Dir: Anjali Monteiro & K.P.Jayasankar; 2009; Kutchi and Gujarati with English subtitles; documentary The Great Rann of Kutch, in the state of Gujarat, is a vast salt desert, which separates India and Pakistan. Murra Lala from Janan, Khadir and Kanji Rana from Dhrubana, Kalo Dongar are Meghwals, a pastoral Dalit community that lives on the edge of the Rann. Before the Partition the Meghwals moved freely across the Rann, between Sindh (now in Pakistan) and Kutch. Though Janan and Dhrubana are a short distance from each other, they are separated by the Rann patrolled by State security agencies and inaccessible to civilians; the circuitous journey between them takes a day.

Murra sings Sufi music and Kabir and Kanji plays the Jodiya Pawa (double flute). Kanji learned to make his own flute as well as to play it by listening to the radio. They both work as daily wage labourers.

A Two Day Fair is fascinating journey into their spaces, lives and music.

8) The Other Song ; Dir: Saba Dewan; 120 minutes; Hindi / Urdu / English / English subtitles

In 1935 Rasoolan Bai the well known singer from Varanasi recorded for the gramo-phone a thumri that she would never sing again - Lagat jobanwa ma chot, phool gendwa na maar (My breasts are wounded, don't throw flowers at me). A variation of her more famous bhairavi thumri - Lagat karejwa ma chot, phool gendwa na maar (My heart is wounded, don't throw flowers at me), the 1935 recording, never to be repeated, faded from public memory and eventually gotlost.

More than seventy years later the film travels through Varanasi, Lucknow and Muzzafarpur in Bihar to search for the forgotten thumri. This journey opens a Pandora's box of life stories, memories, half remembered songs and histories that for long have been banished into oblivion. It brings the film face to face with the enigmatic figure of the tawaif, courtesan, baiji and thecontested terrain of her art practice and lifestyle. To understand the past and present of the tawaif the film must unravel the significant transitions that took place in late 19th and early 20th century around the control, censorship and moral policing of female sexualities and cultural expression.

9) My Village Bampai; Dir: RV Ramani; Hindi; Documentary; 29 min; 2010

Children lodged at the Govt Juvenile Homes in Chennai, are brought there under various charges. Caught between the boundaries of the States and law, the Juvenile Home is a space in transit for the children. Some children find their way back home, some find State adoption, but for many it is a journey to nowhere.