Berlinale Forum, 2/14.

The second-to-last day of the festival began with Final Solution, a documentary from Indian director Rakesh Sharma about the ongoing Hindu-Muslim conflict in the Gujarat region of India. It begins with the massacre of 59 Hindus on board an express train and follows the violence its wake. This is one very frustrating and infuriating film to watch, but not because it's poorly made - quite the contrary - it is a very powerful, detailed film. The frustration lies in following the circle of eye-for-an-eye violence built on a solid foundation of mutual hate and intolerance. The cycle has no beginning and no end, and neither side will be satisfied until there is a final solution. (This film, along with many others perceived as critical of the Indian government, was recently rejected by the Mumbai International Film Festival, prompting a protest by over 60 filmmakers you can read more about in Outlook India - dwh.)

Hava Aney Dey

It was a quick train ride to Potsdamer Platz for a viewing of Hava Aney Dey (Let the Wind Blow), another Indian film, this time a fictional drama about a group of lower class high school-age young men living in Mumbai and their struggles to find jobs and love within India's rigid caste system. Like Final Solution, this film also deals with Hindu-Muslim relations, albeit in subplots. The young actors are all quite good, and the story seems pleasant enough until the completely unexpected, literally explosive finale.

Back to the Delphi for the final film of the day: a 45-minute experimental film from American director Ken Kobland called Buildings and Grounds. The film is divided into four sections, all of which can be interpreted as commentary on man's impact on the planet. The first part takes place in cityscapes, the second in bleak industrial wastelands, the third in desolate, garbage-strewn countryside and the fourth in a meatpacking factory. Throughout, there is a wide variety of music, from Mexican pop to classical to wild jazz, as well as text, printed and spoken, from various sources, including dialog lifted from the films of Fellini and Tarkovsky. The effect is a rumination on both the inner self and the universal consequences of man's devastation of Earth. The images are often nearly motionless, and consistently intriguingly composed.

It was then finally time for the jury to make a decision. We argued passionately for more than three hours and finally came up with a winner. It will be officially announced Sunday night, so I don't want to ruin the surprise, but barring a serious upset in tomorrow's screenings, the Leserjury prize will be awarded as decided this evening.

Bis dann, Cory.

Posted by dwhudson at February 15, 2004 6:03 AM