IFFK'09

The year 2009, for me, is ending with the International Film Festival of Kerala in Trivandrum. It was indeed a great joy to be a part of IFFK once again, though this time movies that can be classified as "extra-ordinary" were missing. In 2007 we had "Pan's Labyrinth", "Bad Education", "XXY", "Talk to Her", etc., and in 2008 we had "The Class", "Kedma", "Laila's Birthday", "Bad Habits", "Katie's Sister", etc.; they all gave me unforgettable feelings. However, such movies are missing this time, or else, perhaps, I have missed to watch them. Movies were "good", but none of them were "excellent" or "moving"; they were unable to catch my breath!
Of course, Goddard's "Pierrot Goes Wild" was a different experience. Then there was the South African "My Secret Sky" by Madoda Ncayiyana; it was quite refreshing; great direction; great acting by child actors; excellent--Yes!
"Step into the Darkness" was very nice and contemporary. "The Moment of Truth" and "More than a Miracle" were very charming. I watched two Malayalam films: "Pathaam Nilayile Theevandi" and "Sufi Paranja Katha". Both were not up to the standard. I wonder how the first one got the award for the Best Malayalam film in the festival; may be others are even worse. I would like to advice the actors, especially Jayasurya, to watch "My Secret Sky" and learn acting from those child actors; I have nothing to suggest to the director, because the direction was nothing above mediocre. The film was full of unnecessary dramatic sounds in every scene; perhaps, they were trying to compensate poor acting and direction with sound, thereby trying to bring the effects whatsoever they intended!

Dedicated Film Lover: We watched "My Secret Sky" sitting on the floor! (My friend Vimal in picture).

Due to some health reasons, I missed "The Antichrist", which has made some waves among the audience; some even fainted by watching it! Many criticises this movie saying that it is a violent movie with the overones of sexual acts. From what I know about the theme, I believe that people are missing the message; they still live caught among the confusions of morality and mediocrity.

Still I enjoyed the festival, for it is not only about the movies, but also roaming around in Thiruvananthapuram, rubbing shoulders with film-lovers! And, for me, it is very great and nostalgic to spend time in a Malayalam speaking land at least for a few days. If I am in Tamil Nadu, I have to construct the sentences in Tamil before I can speak, otherwise it is English. But it is a very delightful experience to speak without searching for words and caring for the grammar. I know that this is very typical for anyone who is staying away from home for a long time; yet, this is special for me because, now, I am experiencing it.