Tongues On Fire London Asian Film Festival Opening Night: Michael
A chain of people become lost in Kolkata’s landscape in Ribhu Dasgupta’s keenly observed debut feature.
We are delighted to be once again hosting the opening night of the 14th London Asian Film Festival. This year’s opening night film, Michael, takes its place in India’s emerging independent cinema landscape, portraying its current social predicament head-on. The film follows a chain of people as they merge and become lost in Kolkata’s landscape. First-time director Ribhu Dasgupta displays a keen and observant eye on the strange tides that, at times, juggle our fate. At the start we find Michael, old and infirm, as he stands still with Kolkata’s traffic whizzing around him. A flashback reveals him as a young policeman, hesitant and reluctant as he is forced to carry out an order to shoot at a peaceful march. In doing so, he is left guilt-ridden and facing a series of tragic events.
Director: Ribhu Dasgupta
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Mahie Gill, Sabyasachi Chakraborti, Shridhar Watsar, Iravati Harshe, Purav Bhandare
Country: India
Year: 2011
Running time: 98min
Tongues On Fire: Bol
A young woman facing execution in Pakistan reflects on her past in this gripping family saga.
18 Mar 15:30 NFT1 Book
Shoaib Mansoor’s second feature focuses on a family in Lahore whose patriarch desperately hopes for a male child. Instead, he ends up with seven daughters and an eighth child who is transgendered. The drama is relayed mostly in flashback by the main protagonist, Zainub, who has been found guilty of a crime by a Pakistan court and sentenced to be hanged. With a strong focus on women and the role which religion plays within their lives, Bol broke all box-office records when released last year in Pakistan.
Followed by a Q&A with actress Humaima Malick
Director: Shoaib Mansoor
Cast: Shoaib Mansoor. With Humaima Malik, Atif Aslam, Mahira Khan, Iman Ali
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2011
Running time: 165min