Through the documentary, Gunaratne alongside two of his friends take the audiences on a journey to Sri Lanka. [break]
They explore the aftermath of the war as the first filmmakers reaching the Sri Lankan North.
On the second day of FSA, seven other documentaries alongside “The Truth That Wasn’t There” were screened. The films, all of them dealing with diverse subject matters, gathered remarkable audiences.
From students to upcoming film makers, the Kumari Cinema hall -- the official venue for this year’s FSA -- was a sight to see. Among the seven films screened, it would not be wrong to say that ‘Saving Dolma’ by Kesang Tseten, also the winner of last year’s Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) received the largest crowd.
Another surprise for the audience was Platform No 5, a 26 minute documentary, dealing with the kids that live by the platform in India. The film was loved by all.
The director present at the screening of her films joined Republica for a brief chat.
“As soon as I landed at the airport, I felt a sudden jolt of happiness,” exclaimed Vanaja C, the director of Platform No. 5. Vanaja confided that her plan to visit Nepal was due from 1993. “It’s a beautiful country, from whatever I have seen,” she said.
Initially a journalist, she already has six films to her credit. She gave up journalism as she developed a passion film making.
Her films discuss varied subjects ranging from the Maoists in India to the plight of HIV infected women in India.
Any particular reason behind choosing the subject of the film?
I have worked as a journalist for more than a decade now. Having worked for print and broadcast I had the opportunity to do stories on diverse issues. These kids on the platform had always intrigued me. Also, I think street kids are a portrayed in a bad light and so I thought why not.
The children are seen very happy in spite of their pitiful life and you show it just that way. Was this a conscious decision?
I don’t make victim films, so yes this was a conscious decision. These kids although living on platforms love their life, they are happy. This is what my films show. I was mindful not to distort reality because that would be a deception to the audiences and to the kids.
The children definitely seem to be happy for they run away from these NGO made hostel, what did you gather as the reason?
Kids are like that. If we don’t coax our kids, the kids who belong to well off families to go to school they won’t. These kids are orphans and live by themselves and they have accepted life that way. They love their independence and like to live life one day at a time.
Although happy now, these kids definitely don’t have a bright future. What do you think can be done for these kids?
Well there’s not much I can say or do. From what I have learned staying with them is that they need someone who they can trust. Most often these organizations that claim they take care of kids forcefully detain them and that is definitely not working. As much as I know them, they do listen if you can communicate in the right way, the way of love.
1 OCTOBER 2011
HALL 1
10 AM This Prison Where I Live 91 min, Burma/Germany, 2010, dir - Rex Bloomstein
Two artistes separated by repression, joined by comedy.
12 PM The Market 70 min, India/Canada, 2010, dir - Rama Rau
The kidney trade in the eye of donor and recipient.
1:30 PM Apour Ti Yapour. Na Jang Na Aman. Yeti Chu Talukpeth 77 min, India, 2011,
dir - Ajay Raina
Lives in the borderlands of Kashmir.
3:15 PM The Boy Mir - Ten Years in Afghanistan 90 min, Afghanistan, 2010, dir - Phil Grabsky
A journey into early adulthood in Afghanistan.
5:15 PM Partners in Crime 94 min, India, 2011, dir - Paromita Vohra
‘Munni badnam hui’ and the matter of copyright.
Hall II
10 AM The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 59 min, India, 2010, dir - Tarun Bhartiya
For whom the toy train is ‘not some exotic antique, but a noisy family member’.
11:15 AM War and Love in Kabul 86 min, Afghanistan, 2009, dir - Helga Reidemeister
A pair of star-crossed lovers in Afghanistan.
1:15 PM Journey to Yarsa 55 min, Nepal, 20111, dir - Dipendra Bhandari
Following a Rukum family in search of yarsagumba gold.
2:45 PM So Heddan So Hoddan 53 min, India, 2011, dir - Anjali Monteiro, KP Jayasankar
The legacy of Sufi poet Shal Abdul Latif Bhitai in Kachchh and Sindh.
4:15 PM Jai Bhim Comrade 207 min, India, 2011, dir - Anand Patwardhan
A 14-year documentation of Dalit assertion in Maharashtra.
Venue: Kumari Cinema, Kathmandu
Tickets at Rs. 50
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