Sunday, June 05, 2005

six great short films and one horrible milkshake

the first thing i realised that after creating this blog back in january, i haven't had contributed much to it. now, since i have realised it and got enough exposure to other people's blogs, i guess i should be writing here often.

i know it's kinda hard for me. for a person who dutifully writes thousands of words daily for bread and butter (that's called a copywriter in advertising parlance) it seems bit awkward to write again few thousands (or even hundreds) more and to top it all, all blogs - in my view - are your window to the world. now, anybody can sneak and have your preview. that's bit dangerous as it makes you vulnerable enough to get shattered image. lolz. but what the hell. i would take the risk. after all, i been hiding away from life to an extent. i guess its time i meet her halfway.

went to mocha short film fest today. as usual. been attending it every first sunday of the month for the last 2 years. and it has been an enlightening experience all the way. except for coupla films which turned out horribly senseless, the whole medium has lured me and taught me lot of things.

like, today's list contained some superb films, some average and one utterly senseless one. if i excuse the senseless one, i really enjoyed going through the experience. for example, 'Eating out' a 12 mintues long film directed by arunkumar (an nri living in usa) was one hillarious take on a couple went to eat out wher they noticed (its just the trigger to create this film i believe) one gay couple sitting and 'enjoying each other's company' on the couch nearby. this turns on the conversation between two protagonists. and lo! they end up in arguments over whether they were gay or lesbians. lolz. quite a funny take on the reality of life's little encounters. but the director's treatment made it funnier and educative at the same time. then there was very short one by elvis d'silva and his girl poonam which they co-wrote and co-created (literally. later on in talk they revealed it was actually a two-people production.) while on a trip to singapore. it was dark, funny and very much powerful subject.

the rest of the list contained one documentary by noted film maker anand patwardhan. this film - war and peace - is banned and restricted by indian government. went through a heart numbing process of censor which suggested 21 cuts (which if director had complied, wouldve killed the film altogether and would have turned out like tv newscast.) and still won coupla prestigious awards from international festivals.

then, there were films like:
1) dREAMS
dIR: sARIKA
dUR: 13 mIN.
A dOCU. oN tHE LiFE oF dESTITUTE wOMEN wHO aRE LeARNING tO LiVE oN tHEIR oWN.


2) oUGHT tO bE oR oUGHT nOT tO bE ( jAPAN )
dIR: sHIMURA bROS
dUR: 28 mIN.
A sUSPENSEFUL cOMEDY aND aN iRONIC fABLE aBOUT mODERN jAPANESE sOCIETY.
1sT pRIZE @ yOKOHAMA fILM fESTIVAL


3) rENT
dIR: sANJAY sHUBHANKAR
dUR: 12 mIN.
hOW LiFE pRESSURIZES yOU tO cOMPROMISES wITH yOUR iDEOLOGY, mORALS AND pRINCIPLES tO fULFILL yOUR sMALL nEEDS.

4) cATARACT (gERMANY / iNDIA)
dIR: sAINATH cHAUDHARY
dUR: 8 mIN.
A cHANCE mEETING bETWEEN tWO pEOPLE iN a LoNELY bERLIN pETROL sTATION, a fANTASTIC jOURNEY tHEY eMBARK uPON aND aN eND nO oNE'S pREPARED fOR.
wINNER tALENT mOVIE oF tHE wEEK, bERLIN iNTERNATIONAL fILM fESTIVAL, 2005


(gosh. i guess its turning into something like reporting the filmfest event. i guess i still havent learned how to fucking write a blog! nowukfurries! i will learn fast.)


but then as an afterthought, i think if it is really necessary to write a truthfull blog or say be a expert blooger to write a blog? is it?