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South Asian cinema at Commonwealth Film Festival

29/ 4/2005

THE Commonwealth Film Festival this year presents a plethora of screenings representing South Asian cinema, crossing over strands from Gala Presentations to short films.
Chased by Dreams (Gala Presentation) is Bengali writer-poet-filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta's third film to be presented in the Festival after 2002's The Wrestlers and 2003's A Tale of a Naughty Girl. This allegorical road movie tackles a nation's concerns for its future by examining the intimate hopes and fears of its protagonists.

We are thrilled to announce that Buddhadeb Dasgupta will be in town to present the screening as a special guest of the Festival. Two other Bengali films, Yours Truly, Srikanta from India and Shankhonad from Bangladesh, offer meditative reflections on the wisdom one acquires later in life and the effortless relationship between man and his natural environment.

The double feature Punjabi Love Stories / Meet The Sumdees presents two examples of culturally mixed marriages and what they reveal about our capacity to navigate cultural differences. The festival programme also offers something from the other end of the
spectrum: the feisty romantic comedy Pink Ludoos. It shows how one Indo- Canadian girl, caught between old traditions and new lifestyles, is hell-bent on making the best of both worlds. This is without doubt, Canada's answer to Bend
It Like Beckham! In fact, the talented Shaheen Khan, who plays the mother in both films, will be on hand to present the film, alongside Canadian director Gaurav Seth. Another engaging English language romantic comedy with a distinct

Indian flavour is Bharatbala's Hari Om, starring Monsoon Wedding's Vijay Raaz, and set against the spectacular vistas of Rajhastan. Once again, the Commonwealth Film Festival gives voice to women filmmakers from around the Commonwealth. Pakistani documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid (last year's Reinventing the Taliban?) comes to Manchester to present her bold investigation the role played by women in cementing democracy and furthering social progress in Saudi Arabia, the world's most conservative Muslim
nation, in The Women of the Holy Kingdom. From India, director Pamela Rooks brings us Dance Like a Man, a riveting family drama set in a family of Bharatanatyam dancers.

Mathieu Ravier, Commonwealth Film Festival's programme director comments, " Beyond the ever popular cinema of Bollywood there is a fantastic range of diverse and entertaining South Asian films that rarely make it to our shores. For a limited time we bring you an exclusive sample of what this year's best South Asian filmmakers are up to. It's your only chance to make discoveries such as the wonderful Yaanam, a fascinating journey through the gorgeous backwaters of Kerala."

The full festival programme including details of all Asian screenings is now online at
www.commonwealthfilm.com

South Asian Cinema at the Commonwealth Film Festival 2005 29 April - 8 May, 2005 Manchester
Major Venue Partners: AMC, Cornerhouse and green room.