'Chaplin' to open Florence Indian Film Fest
After an overwhelming response here, Bengali film 'Chaplin' has been selected as the inaugural film of the 11th edition of the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival.
"After the long run at the box office in plexes and single screen theatres in Kolkata and elsewhere, I am sure Chaplin will get a very good and positive response in Europe too," director Anindo Banerjee said here today.
The film's lead actor Rudranil Ghosh, who is expected to be present, said after seeing the confirmation letter from the festival director "it was like a dream come true as I had literally given everything, my heart and soul for the role of Bangshi."
Ghosh said he would be leaving on December 1 to attend the festival. The film is about street artiste Bangshi Das, who dresses up like Charlie Chaplin and performs at household parties, Banerjee told PTI.
"Bangshi had seen only one Chaplin film in his childhood and got hooked to the 'Tramp'. As he grew up amidst grinding poverty he became sort of a street performer, regaling guests at birthday parties for Rs 500 a month by copying the legend's mannerisms."
The film also dwells on how as a single father, Bangshi managed to face all the obstacles in life with the help, support and camaraderie that he shared with his only son.
The festival will be held in Florence, Italy, from December 2 to 8. Under the Patronage of the Embassy of India in Rome, this is the first festival in the world entirely devoted to films from and about India.
The festival is supported by Fondazione Sistema Toscana-Mediateca Regionale as part of the Cinquanta Giorni di Cinema Internazionale a Firenze and will be held in the heart of the city, in the beautiful 20s-style Odeon theatre.
The director would, perhaps, not be able to make it to the festival himself.
