25 February,2010 09:07 AM IST | | Swati Kumari
The former fascinates. The latter, when pertaining to politics, puts you off. Persistence-Resistance is what you need to bring about a change of perspective
There's the Budget. Bureaucracy. And babudom. And then, there's a young lot of changemakers who could go to just about any lengths to rouse your conscience. Remember RDB? Hazaaron Khwaishein? More recently, Anurag Kashyap's Gulaal?
Take note: A still from Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi
Does politics still sound boring? Persistence Resistance, a three-day festival beginning today, aims to delve into the depths of the socio-economic-political-emotional sphere that's more of than not misunderstood or overhyped. The body behind the affair is Magic Lantern Foundation, which promotes young filmmakers who are articulating important societal issues through this medium.
u00a0The films shift between questions of territorial, social, historical and personal identities, observing, capturing, reflecting and discovering sometimes that, which is concealed behind fixed definitions and paradigms. "This year, we are looking at art embedded in human struggle, notions of internationalism, and the need to stretch the definition of the 'political' to include the way we practise art. We have new films, open-air screenings, video installations and book releases, too," says Gargi Sen, festival director.
She is hopeful that the documentaries would prove a new experience for aspirants who can learn the art of filmmaking from these films. "People's perceptions, whether about documentaries that relate to advertisements, current issues or television, are wrong.
We are showcasing creative, soul-stirring ones. It is a platform where we welcome filmmakers and film audiences to inhabit and share a common space in time, in an effort to collectively create and redefine public cultures," Gargi goes on. "Take, for instance, the movie Bilal, which is a story of a three-year-old whose parents are blind. The film tells this unusual story by observing the little boy over a year and capturing rare moments of sharing love, fun, cruelty and hope amid all societal scrutiny."u00a0u00a0
The festival will screen around 89 films using multiple screening and viewing practices. Films will be screened in two auditoria, in the outdoors, in simulated video parlous, at a multi-hub video library and as installations. The event tries to move beyond confines of stereotypical 'viewing spaces,' thus inviting the audience to participate in the world of images in a different way. "Dance performances or art can't bring change, but help you be a better human being. Films are not an instrument; they just push your consciousness," she reminds, urging young politicians, students and citizens to stop by.
The Persistence Resistance Festival
At: the India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg
When: Today to February 27 9.30 am to midnight
For detailed schedule,
Visit: www.magiclanternfoundation.org
