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'I am open to an arranged marriage'

Updated on: 04 June,2011 08:28 AM IST  | 
Fiona Fernandez | fiona.fernandez@mid-day.com

Camera in tow, British filmmaker Simon Chambers travelled between Bangladesh and London with the two daughters of an immigrant, and their family to unravel the truth behind arranged marriages. In the process, he established the universality of certain home truths and made Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears, which airs on television this weekend

'I am open to an arranged marriage'

Camera in tow, British filmmaker Simon Chambers travelled between Bangladesh and London with the two daughters of an immigrant, and their family to unravel the truth behind arranged marriages. In the process, he established the universality of certain home truths and made Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears, which airs on television this weekend

"Most Westerners have a confused view of Bangladesh and of arranged marriages. They think arranged marriages are forced; it makes news here for all the wrong reasons. Even I came from a position of ignorance before I started working on Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears," recalls British filmmaker Simon Chambers, speaking to us from his home in London. His film will be aired on NDTV 24x7 over the weekend.



Simon's protagonists, Shahanara and her younger sister Hushnara, children of Bangladeshi immigrants, attended the youth centre in Paddington where Chambers taught bicycle mechanics -- "I completed a course from London's National Film School and needed camera practice. A friend told me about these two girls. Tradition-bound Hushnara was on her way to Bangladesh to have an arranged marriage. She had her reservations, as she hadn't met her to-be husband. I wanted to understand this different world."


A still from Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears

Camera-friendly
With time, the family trusted him enough to let him record their journey. "They knew I wouldn't film any aspect that was disrespectful or detrimental to them. Eventually, I travelled with them to Bangladesh for a month, to document the wedding." Chambers followed the sisters and other family members in London as well.

Earlier, Shahanara, the rebellious, Westernised elder sister also had an arranged marriage with a Bangladeshi villager who moved to London for her. It was a disaster; she threw him out of the house. Shahanara was rejected by her family for her ways and had been living with foster parents. "She wanted to make amends and get back into the fold." In fact, he is presently shooting a sequel that will focus mainly on Shahanara.u00a0

For better or worse
"My first surprise was when I realised that the family was highly respectable and had a high social standing in their native village. The girls' father was a cook in London despite owning property in Bangladesh. His heart was still in his motherland. His plan was to make money and return home. What he hadn't accounted for was that his children would grow up as British, not Bangladeshi. This film is about the cultural expectations that different generations have," says Simon, of his filming experience.

"Many families from the subcontinent consider the UK to be their home -- this was the difference between the family I was filming. In the span of one generation, the focus had shifted from a village in Bangladesh to central London."

Why can't I find a man?
In course of the chat Simon reiterates that opposing views shared by the sisters endeared the film to a worldwide audience -- "Both sisters have different attitudes towards love. Shahanara was more a consumerist, she had this knack of messing up her life. In contrast, Hushnara had a more 'Bangladeshi' idea of marriage. She didn't love her man and learnt to love him later. Today, the couple is very much together and has three kids. Shahanara is still looking for love ufffd" Simon admits that the journey was close to his heart since too was looking for love at the time. He still is, and reveals, "I wouldn't mind it if someone arranges a marriage for me. I don't think a love marriage is a necessity in these times."

On
NDTV 24X7, tomorrow, 3 pm onwards

Also watch this weekend
Mocha Film Club and The Root Reel
The Laya Project
As part of the World Environment Day initiatives, Mocha TreeHuggers and The Root will screen The Laya Project, a documentary about the lives and music culture of coastal and neighbouring communities in the 2004 tsunami-affected regions of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar and India.
On June 4, 6 pm to 7 pm
AT Mocha Mojo, Classic Corner Building, near Holy Family Hospital, Hill Road, Bandra (W).
Call
9167727782 (to register)

Taj Enlighten Film Society's European Film Festival
Sound of Insects (Peter Leichti; 2009) and Tosca's Kiss (1984, Daniel Schmidt; 1984, 87 minutes) along with documentary by Kamal Musale, Courrier Du Pacifique (1998; 35 minutes) and Raclette Curry (2000; 8 minutes). Workshop by filmmaker Kamal Musale on documentary filmmaking.
On June 4, 4 pm onwards
At
World Media College, SV Road, Malad (W).

Army of Shadows (1968)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, the film is an adaptation of Joseph Kessel's 1943 book by the same name. It blends Kessels' experiences as a member of the French Resistance.
On June 5, 12 noon
At Cinemax, Versova.

Breathless (1959)
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, this film is about a young car thief who kills a policeman and attempts to persuade a girl to run away and hide in Italy with him.
On June 5, 10 am
At Metro Big Cinemas, Dhobi Talao.
Call 42141414; ENTRY (For entire fest) Rs 999




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