Film on environment turns into a 'horror'

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

MUMBAI, FEB. 5: The movie, ``Nature in Perpetual Motion''. The language, Japanese. The place, a northernmost island in Japan.

The visuals, splendidly awesome. But to the viewers at the Nehru Centre auditorium, where this work was shown yesterday as part of the ongoing Mumbai International Film Festival, the images appeared forever in soft focus.

There was a patch of irritating light on the screen that was further distorting a picture that spoke about the deterioration of the environment, through the eyes of an elderly Japanese man.

Only it seemed to be happening pretty quickly on the Mumbai canvas, thanks to the awful projection.

The movie's director paced up and down the darkened auditorium, his inability to speak fluent English placing him in a tight spot. He could not explain that this was not the way he had shot his film or express his horror at the way his frames were being distorted.

Later, he told this correspondent in laboured English that they had sent a very good print, but it appeared so terribly dirty. One could see his team visibly upset, though one supposes the Japanese spirit did not permit the members to raise their voice and express their anger openly.

But the question is, will this director ever again send his picture to India ? Probably not, but what can be worse, is that he may ask his friends not to do so. What negative publicity to an international festival.

Incidentally, the Nehru Centre auditorium is maintained by the National Film Development Corporation, the organisation that was set up to promote good cinema in this country. Is this how, one goes about it ?

``Nature in Perpetual Motion'' is part of the prestigious International Competition section, and the Mumbai Festival boasts of several other important categories such as the International Video Competition and National Video Competition.

Some of the noteworthy entries include ``Kalamandalam Gopi'' (by Adoor Gopalakrishnan), ``Kumar Talkies'' (Pankaj Rishi Kumar), ``Ray'' (Goutam Ghose), ``The Marams'' (Aribam Syam Sharma), ``My Journey, My Islam'' (Kay Rasool), ``Cinema Verite:Defining the Moment'' (Peter Wintonick), ``Patterns'', ``Desperately Seeking Helen''and the closing entry ``Buena Vista Social Club'' (Wim Wenders).

These movies will compete for a variety of prizes that include the Golden and Silver Conches, plus cash awards and certificates.

A maximum of Rs 2,50,000 will be given away to each of the Best Non-Fiction Films in two distinct groups, above 50 minutes and upto 50 minutes. The festival concludes on February 9.

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