Regional cinema all the way

The second day of the ‘6th Bengaluru Film Festival’ (BIFFes), a week-long extravaganza, ensured that film-buffs got a taste of different kinds of cinema. 

From thought-provoking movies to light-hearted ones, film lovers had an array to choose from. While some of the films managed to garner large crowds, others only had a limited audience. Nonetheless, everyone watched the films with rapt attention.  

Some of the films screened on day two of the event were ‘The German Doctor’, a 2013 Argentinian film directed by Lucia Puenzo; ‘Bharath Stores’, a 2012 Kannada film directed by P Sheshadri; Wadjda, a Saudi Arabian film directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour and ‘Gate of Hell’, a 1953 Japanese film directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa among a host of others. 

The screenings were held at Fun Cinema, Lido, Sulochana and Priyadarshini Auditoriums. 

But the highlight of the day was the screening of one of the most popular Kannada films of 2013, ‘Lucia’. 

The 135-minute-long film, directed by Pawan Kumar, was screened at Lido. Director of ‘Remembering Bimal Roy’, a 55-minute-long documentary, Joy Bimal Roy said, “I was only ten when my father passed away. As I grew up watching his films, I wanted to know more about him. It’s the same curiosity that got me to make the documentary.” 

He added, “At first, I used to interview those who had worked with my father. 

Later, I decided to videotape the interviews, which were then put together. The film is an effort to show his life and journey.”

Natesan, an auditor who has been trying to watch as many films as possible at the festival, said, “Although this is the first time I’m attending this film festival, I have attended others previously. There is so much that can be learnt from the films being screened here. There is a wide choice. I’ve always been interested in international films. I enjoyed watching the Korean film — ‘Re- Encounter’ directed by Min Yong-Keun.” He added, “I really hope to watch as many films as possible.” 

Raghavendra S, a retired banker who attended the event, said, “After retirement, we need to find ways to spend time. And this is a good way. I found the selection of films to be good. I’ve been watching films from different languages. I’m glad to be watching meaningful cinema.” G Krishnamurthy, who watched Astu, a 2013 Marathi film, said, “The music for the film was excellent and so was the acting. It was a film that the audience could connect with.”