2023 Delhi, streets, lives
11th edition of CineMasala
When? From Thursday 9 November to Saturday 11 November.
Where? Pôle Sud
Address: Av. Jean-Jacques Mercier 3 I 1003 Lausanne
Website: https://polesud.ch/
Film times: Thursday, 7 pm; Friday, 7 pm; Saturday, 8 pm; doors open (with snack), 1 hour before.
Thursday 9 November
7pm, Pôle Sud
All That Breathes
Screening accompanied by a discussion on Delhi with Ishtiyaque Ahmed (UNIL).
Documentary by Shaunak Sen, India, United Kingdom, United States, 12 years (14 years) – Original version with French subtitles – 97′
Summary
In one of the world’s most populous cities, Delhi, two brothers, Nadeem and Saud, devote their lives to protecting the black kite, a majestic bird of prey typical of the city’s ecosystem. The black kite population is suffering from pollution and is declining at an alarming rate. Between environmental toxicity and social and religious unrest, the “kite brothers” work day and night to care for their protégés in their basement. The director explores the links between the kite birds and the brothers who help them return to the skies, offering a fascinating chronicle of coexistence between species in the urban environment of Delhi.
Website: https://www.allthatbreathes.com/
Friday 10 November
7 PM, Pôle Sud
Taking the Horse to Eat Jalebis
Screening accompanied by an online discussion with director Anamika Haksar and actor Ravindra Sahu.
Film by Anamika Haksar, India, (16 years) – Original version with French subtitles – 121′
Summary
The film follows four main characters: a pickpocket, a sweet and savoury snack seller, a labour activist and a heritage walk leader. We see old Delhi through their eyes – their lives, their hopes, their aspirations, their dreams – and we hear it through their different languages and dialects. The film does not move in a linear fashion. It moves like homeless and migrant communities from minute to minute, adapting its space and structure to each ongoing event. Dreams and realities mix to form a magical and exciting realism.
Saturday 11 November
8 PM, Pôle Sud (Gate opens at 7 PM)
Eeb Allay Ooo!
5:00 PM Masterclass (registration required)
Prateek Vats, independent filmmaker based in Mumbai, winner, Special Jury Prize at the National Film Awards (India – 2018) for his documentary. His films incorporate several non-fictional elements, mixing non-professional and trained actors, as well as footages and elaborate mise-en-scène to create a realistic and revealing narrative. As part of his workshop, Prateek will be giving a masterclass to share his approach to filmmaking and his working methods with the public.
Film by Prateek Vats, India, 14 years (14 years) – Original version with French subtitles – 98′
Summary
Recently arrived in Delhi, Anjani is given the task of removing monkeys from certain public buildings in the city. Associated with the god Hanuman, the monkeys are proliferating to the point of posing a problem to public order. Aware of the absurdity of his role, Anjani shows tenacity and creativity, disguising himself as a langur to scare off the primates. By following the struggles and journey of its main protagonist (Shardul Bharadwaj), the film offers a mirror in which to reflect social issues and, more generally, the absurdity of the human condition.