Just fests, no shorts.

Without much exaggeration, it could be stated that there is a new film festival in San Francisco every week. Last year, I would easily explain to out-of-towners that this city is the most festival-friendly place on the planet. An embarrassment of riches, if you will. This year, however, the bar is raised. There are two new film festivals every week. Something for every narrowly-defined interest. Fortunately, this weekend, there are two good ones.

TRAVELING FILM SOUTH ASIA 2004

Running from March 12 through 21 in San Francisco and March 26 through 28 in Milpitas, TFSA is a new festival comprised largely of selections from the Film South Asia festival in Nepal and the World Social Forum in India. In all, 19 films (all documentaries, most under an hour) from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh, providing a rare insight into a part of the world largely unrepresented on American screens. Co-presented by Friends of South Asia and the Berkeley-based Ekta (along with the Himal Association in Nepal), this event is a unique opportunity to see work that will likely never appear in this city again.

Opening this weekend with Amar Kanwar's A Night of Prophecy (a poetic work shot throughout Kashmir, Maharashta, Nagaland and Andhra Pradesh, censored at the Mumbai International Film Festival but presented here in its entirety) and Gopal Menon's Resilient Rhythms (an Indian film about the exploited Dalits), the festival continues with challenging works paired in complete programs that provide the best chance to understand the complex issues that are otherwise rarely mentioned in newspapers or news coverage. In particular, these highlights:

Itihaas Jitneharuka Laagi/History for Winners (screening March 27 at the India Community Center in Milpitas) contrasts two very different Nepalese singers, one "classical" and one "pop" (for lack of better terms). Kuber Rai was considered to be one of the finest singers of his generation, mentioned in the opening titles as the "likely successor to [the] late Narayan Gopal, 'the king' of Nepali modern songs." Two years after winning the National Singing Competition, he disappeared from Kathmandu. The early part of the film is largely an introduction to Kuber and his struggle to return to the music industry. He says, "I want to sing songs that are timeless," and indeed, he does. Beautifully, but without charm; his talents are unappreciated in this new era. Enter Dheeraj Rai, the self-proclaimed Michael Jackson of Nepal. If anything, he proves that pop music essentially sucks worldwide. However, his charisma carries him through and his songs are at once cheerful and instantly forgettable. "We are born to be winners," Dheeraj claims in the closing performance. Some of us are.

Buru Sengal/The Fire Within (screening March 21 at the Mission Cultural Center in San Francisco) is a troubling documentary about the exploitation of land (and people) in the unsavory pursuit of coal by strip-mining in the worst possible fashion. Mentioned in the end credits but not shown, "On 8-October-2001, 150 people die[d] when the illegal Lal Baand mine in Ranigjung area collapsed. Not a single body was recovered." What we are shown is the devastating effect of such despicable efforts on the people of these communities. The film was a Grand Jury Award winner at Film South Asia 2003 and winner of Best Film at the XVIII Black International Cinema 2003.

Finally, Made in India (screening March 26 at the India Community Center in Milpitas) was, as it says in the title, "made in India" by Madhusree Dutta and based on the curatorial concept for the "New Indian Art" exhibition by Gulammohammed Sheikh. The imagery often stunning, quite compelling, only occasionally lackluster. However, the paintings on roll-top shop shutters and the sky filled with hundreds of kites are unforgettable. Best of all (and worth the price of admission alone) is the conversation with a remarkably talented painter of Bollywood murals. Hearing him discuss his craft is fascinating and watching him white-wash an old mural is heartbreaking. This gentleman needs an entire documentary devoted to him.

FEARLESS TALES GENRE FEST

Boldly, this self-proclaimed "first annual" is off to a grand start. Tobe Hooper (director of the original, didn't-need-to-be-remade Texas Chainsaw Massacre) will be there, in person, to present his latest, The Toolbox Murders.

The great Jack Hill (Big Doll House and numerous other classics) will be present for his extended cut of the legendary Spider Baby. Catch a midnight screening of the sorely underrated, Roger Ebert-scripted Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-vixens, the last narrative feature (thus far) directed by Russ Meyer, or a revival of Demons by Mario Bava's son, Lamberto, and produced by Dario Argento (and starring his darling daughter Asia). You couldn't go wrong with any of these choices. While you're at it - see something you've never heard of before, too.

All events occur at the lovely Victoria Theatre (on 16th, near Valencia) in San Francisco's Mission district.

Posted by dwhudson at March 11, 2004 1:50 PM