Friday, October 22, 2010

Mumbai Film Festival 2010 Diary - Day 1...

Today 22 October 2010 (actually now its yesterday) was first day of  Mumbai Film festival 2010 (MAMI). I wanted to start from morning show (10.30am) but I couldn't make it. I started with second show (12.30pm), Akira Kurosawa Movie 'No  Regrets For Our Youth' (1946). An epic drama of feminist self-discovery, this is Akira Kurosawa's firsh major work. I found this film is very inspirational and very thought provoking. As a youth today many of us don't think about long term solutions to any problem. We are fast food generation but it's very hard to fight for cause any battle and give your entire life for that. We always in search of happy safe life and run away from struggle and truth. This is 'must watch' movie not only for Kurosawa but also for leading actors Setsuko Hara and Susumu Fujita.

The third show was of Canadian movie 'Everybody's Couch' (2009) by Dominic Desjardins. It's a same old journey movie, but present it in different way. The film character Zoe (actress) and Alex (actor) you meet first time in this movie. They are different and make this journey worth watching. We finished this movie at 5.00pm and ran to screen 3 in PVR cinema for opening film of this festival 'The Social Network'. There was a big Que for this movie. The movie is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires: The founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal by Ben Mezerich, The Social Network tells a fictionalized version of the founding of Facebook. Amazing movie. The single message which I got from this movie is 'If you have an outstanding idea, don't think much, implement it at any cost. If it's really worth, you will be successful and people will appreciate it. This is a story of film, but today important thing had happened behind the screen. As I mentioned it earlier there was long que for this movie. The sitting capacity of auditorium is 300 and over 800 people were standing in a que. At 5.30 volunteers had closed the doors saying that, auditorium is full, there are no seats available inside and movie was started. But around 500 people waiting outside to go in. Somehow I manage to get into the auditorium. As soon as I went inside I fond only two journalist were fighting with organizers that how can they closed the door and start screening the movie when people are waiting outside. the people who got the place, they were sitting calmly and watching the show. I kept my bag on one empty seat and joined those journalist. We told them that kindly stop the screening and allow other people inside. If there are no seats available people can sit on staircase and will watch the movie (that's how its work in all film festivals). But organizers were giving us reason that it's a security issue. We spoke to audience that how can you watch movie while others are waiting outside, 'Don't you have self respect that your a true film lover and you should fight for others too'. After this, everybody joined us and asked to stop  the screening. Then entire auditorium joined us and management had to stop the screening and they let other inside. Finally we won. I am sure this would have been updated on everybodys facebook status while all this was happening or after that. And thats what the movie all about. the social network!

Today's last movie we watched was from South Koria - Hahaha. Very interesting and funny concept. Two friends talk about their adventures while on holiday, they decided to reveal only their pleasant memories, and neither realised they were both in the same place and same time, with the same group of people. Movie really holds your attention for all two hours and refresh you. 

In and out first day was good. Four different movies from different countries was nice experience. Hope to see more good work in coming week.