The French flavour is on full play at the Bengalooru International Film Festival 2008, with the Vivre Ensemble! package continuing to have a good crowd turnout. The French package, which has six films, discusses the social divides in the French society with all their hurt, alienation and hope. On Sunday, both films from the package — Wesh, Wesh, What’s Going on? and Zim and Co. — were screened to near-packed halls at Vision Cinemas.
The much-awarded Wesh, Wesh, What’s Going on?, directed by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche, is about a family of immigrants and its attempts to integrate with the society. Pierre Jolivet’s Zim and Co. is the tale of a youngster dodging a prison term over drunken driving by managing a job and payslips. The film, with a dash of everyday humour, traces young lives in graffiti-sprayed urban suburbs. The 2002-released film was screened to a near full-house at BIFFES.
Kannada winners
In the Country Focus Hungary package, Gyorgy Smojas’ Vagabond and Benedek Fliegauf’s Dealer were screened. As part of the retrospective of legendary Japanese filmmaker Kenji Mizoguchi, The Story of the late Chrysanthemums and Osaka Elegy were screened on Sunday.
The DVD show of clippings from award-winning Kannada films, including Accident, Banker Margaiah and Bandhana also had impressive crowds at Vision Cinemas. The holiday buzz was intact on Sunday at the venues, where films were also followed by engaging discussions among the viewers and interactions involving the filmmakers.