Film on Syrian crisis dominates Shimla fest

Bhanu P Lohumi

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 7

Award-winning Arabic film “I’m Gonna Tell God Everything”, reflecting the mental and social side effects on the lives of children in war-torn Syria, by American director Dev Pinn and “Feed or Bleed India” — fight between hunger and hygiene for women beggars by Susheel Jangira — would be the main highlight of the sixth edition of the International Film Festival of Shimla.

“As many as 134 films, including foreign films from 34 countries, and films in Kannada, Tamil, Malayali, Marathi, Bangla, Rajasthani and Hindi languages will be screened in the two-day festival to be held here on December 25 and 26 through virtual medium,” said festival director Pushp Raj Thakur.

Two-day virtual event

As many as 134 films, including foreign films from 34 countries, and films in Kannada, Tamil, Malayali, Marathi, Bangla, Rajasthani and Hindi languages will be screened in the two-day festival to be held here on December 25 and 26 through virtual medium. —Pushp Raj Thakur, Festival Director

“I’m Gonna Tell God Everything” is an award-winning Syria-based short film (19:37 minutes) directed by Dev Pinn Aka Vasu Pinnamaraju. It is a heart-touching film that revolves around five-year-old boy Yusuf, whose family is killed by militants. The last words uttered by Yusuf admitted to hospital with burn injuries “I’m gonna tell God everything” changes the situation and all the hospital staff and militant group that killed his family are in tears.

“Feed or Bleed India” is a 15-minute documentary film that deals with the fight between hunger and hygiene for women beggars living on Indian streets. The film brings out the real plight with periods. A woman has the right to dignity and the fight just begins here. The nerve wracking question: “If she is given a sanitary pad or a roti (Indian flat bread) what would she pick up first?” leaves all speechless. The film is directed by Susheel Jangira, fashion model, TC anchor, lyricist and director.

“The Indignity (Pakistan)” is a 30:25-minute film based on a short story Hatak (Indignity) by Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto. The film, directed by Danyal Rasheed, is about Peeno, a prostitute in her mid-thirties who is defying the bitter experiences and the harsh surroundings. She sets out to tame the masculine with her potent feminine energy but will her short-lived conquest of a world destitute in humanity take away her inner sadness?

Two eminent films to be screened in the long documentary category include Pragaash Band (song of silence) and Made like a gun.

“Pragaash Band” is one hour 11 minute documentary directed by Janmejay Singh. It is a story of three Kashmiri Muslim girls, full of optimism and ambitions, who embark on the journey of music to discover harsh realities of the world they live in.

“Made like a gun”, directed by Shane McLachlan, is one hour five minute documentary on the fulfillment of a 15-year promise made by a father to his son. It’s about a ride with an ageing ex-champion motorcycle racer and his son on a Himalayan odyssey, as they attempt to conquer the world’s highest navigable roads on the Indian sub-continent.