Wednesday, June 17, 2009

[screenings] Bad Season


“We weren’t short of subjects for conversation. Or rather yes, we were. What we weren’t short of were objects. Masses of objects… each with its own name. Masses and masses of names…. but the subjects, real or false, had disappeared.”

- Jean-Luc Godard, Soft Talk on a Hard Subject between Friends

“I stopped sleeping the night I started dreaming in television. Until a month ago, all the drabness and eternal boredom of my daily life were purged in the honky-tonk all-night carnival in my head till the break of the next dawn as announced by 6.00am metro that passes above my room. I’ve had nightmares where my parents turn into monsters, sharp fanged orifices opening in their stomachs trying to eat me alive, I’ve had conversations with Sir Mick Jagger and a greyhound in a park, I’ve spent a misty morning at a remote hill station with long forgotten friends and an irrepressible pyromaniac dwarf, I dreamed of Ida Lupino… I have lived countless lifetimes and lifestyles in the spin of the kaleidoscope of my asleep yet quivering eye. And then, all of a sudden, almost as if my waking life had infected my unconscious, I started dreaming in television. Even in my dreams, I became a mere spectator. I began seeing talent shows, cricket matches, soap operas and I, myself, my fantastic Bogart-brewed dream-self was nowhere to be seen- lost, eclipsed by the static numb of TV. About a week ago, I had a dream with squeaky smiley-faced nincompoops who never tired of bumping into each other with unchanging expressions. I woke up in cold sweat. In this great bustling megapolis, just past the midnight hour, I sat awake in my bed… for once, feeling truly alone. I have never dared to fall asleep since. In an hour, I leave this city forever.”

- Message dated 11th August, 2015 found folded inside a matchbox lying on a table in Indian Coffee House.

The past few months with films going on strike have taken a massive toll on the spirit and general outlook for us at the Bangalore Film Society. Deprived of our daily dose of delusion, the reality of everyday Bangalore hit us hard. Bars reportedly made a lot of money.

Bangalore Film Society presents ‘Bad Season’, a weekend of celebration of deadheads and dropouts, the disillusioned and the disaffected, the condition that is, the soul of a sane man in a world gone mad.

Friday 19th June, 2009 Time: 6.30pm

Every Man for Himself and God Against All (1974/105min) Dir: Werner Herzog


Also known as ‘The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser’, this is one of master Herzog’s landmark films- a chronicle based on the mysterious story of Kaspar Hauser, the mysterious foundling who appeared in the streets of Nuremberg in the early part of the 19th century, who was apparently raised in a dungeon and with absolutely no knowledge of the world outside. Herzog weaves the story into a typically bizarre, bleak, darkly humorous, almost operatic and yet humane meditation on a man against the world and its deceptions. Winner of the FIPRESCI, Grand Du Prix and Ecumenical Jury Award at Cannes 74’.

Saturday 20th June, 2009 Time: 6.15pm

Naked (1993/130min) Dir: Mike Leigh

Often cited as Director Mike Leigh’s greatest triumph, ‘Naked’ is one of cinema’s profoundest, headiest meditations into the dark side of the soul. Chronicling the exploits and madness of its now iconic protagonist Johnny, Leigh etches a dark urban netherworld populated by the ragged, the angry and the disillusioned who have long since dropped out or rebelled against the world. Featuring an explosive performance by David Thewlis as Johnny who picked up the Best Actor at Cannes 93’, the film also garnered Leigh the award for Best Director.

Sunday 21st June, 2009 Time: 6.30pm

Hunger (1966/112min) Dir: Henning Carlsen

Based on the Nobel-prize winning author Knut Hamsun’s blistering debut novel, ‘Hunger’ is the tale of a struggling writer who makes every desperate attempt to cling on to life and sanity as he wanders through the streets looking for love and a chance to get published. On the eve of its release Director Carlsen was deemed as a successor to none other than the great Carl T. Deyer and lead actor Per Oscarsson’s evocative performance of the starving writer Pontus won the 66’ Cannes award for best actor while the film was nominated for the Palm D’Or.

Venue: Ashirvad, 30, St. Mark's Road cross, Op. State Bank of India

Tel:25493705/9886213516

Email:bangalorefilmsociety@gmail.com

ADMISSION FOR FILMS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. NON-MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO ARRIVE 15 MINS EARLY AND REGISTER.
(Members whose membership has expired are requested to kindly renew their membership.)


2 comments:

Salil Mirashi said...

Some facts suck!

Fact File:
1. Bangalore is far from Mumbai. Pretty Far!
2. Leaves arent easy to get
3. Good things are happening in Bangalore

Goofball said...

I beg to differ.. salil mirashi