Cinematic tales make way to Delhi, again
Cinema is a lifeline that often binds artistic souls. Though the pandemic brought the world to a standstill for two years, now that people are getting used to the new normal, cinephiles are in for a treat, too! Making its return to the Capital, after a two-year hiatus, is the Habitat International Film Festival (HIFF).
It is showcasing more than 50 award-winning and festival favourite films from across the world, to push the boundaries of cinematic arts and reflect on the realities of a changing world. “Normally, the festival would be restricted to the best of the year that went by, but this time, there are films of 2020 as well, so that one doesn’t miss out on them. Also, one will notice that a lot of the short films and documentaries are reflecting the pandemic period,” informs Vidyun Singh, creative head programmes at Indian Habitat Centre.
Filmmaker G Prabha’s feature film, Taya (By Her), in Sanskrit, will be screened on May 7. This is Prabha’s second film to be screened at HIFF and he is happy to be back. He adds, “My film showcases the struggle of a woman who took on the patriarchy and the judiciary of her time and its far-reaching consequences, which is an issue that still bears relevance today.”
Clara Sola, a 2021 film by Costa Rican-Swedish director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, which will be screened on May 9, will show a 40year-old woman experiencing a sexual and mystical awakening. Mesén says, “What is the role of women in getting rid of patriarchy is something that I have always found interesting... I am happy that people are finally able to experience cinema after two years of the pandemic, especially since we make movies to be experienced in a theatre.” However, she admits that online platforms made it possible for people in rural areas to experience the same, which is also the case in Costa Rica.
There are no Covid-19 directives from the government, yet a time gap after every screening, for ventilation and sanitisation of the hall, will be observed. “We have kept the registration online with QR codes. Also, the festival cafe is outdoors and will open in the evening,” says Singh, calling the decision to revive the film festival “a leap of faith”. She adds, “A festival requires a lot of planning and coordination. We decided to keep our fingers crossed and go ahead with it. The kind of audience we have had so far for other programmes, and the fact that a lot of our films are fully booked is taken as an indication that people want to come.”