indian independent cinema at its finest

i got home from whistler yesterday afternoon, dropped my bags off, and headed back downtown to see two more film fest flicks (#7 and #8 if anyone is keeping count).

both of the films were from india. the first one, called behind the mirror, dealt with the growing cultural divide between parents and children who find themselves caught on either sides of a rapidly changing society. the film took a fresh take on this generational gap, by portraying the child as the one who wanted to return to a more traditional way of life. i was lucky in choosing this particular screening because the director was there, and i got to hear him talk about the film and answer questions from the audience afterwards.

the second film, amu, bravely tackled a dark period in indian history neglected by historians and the international community - the 1984 riots in new delhi. i knew beforehand that the content of this film would be disturbing, but i was not prepared for the deep well of emotions it stirred within me. the scenes leading up to the end of the film were so painful to watch that i almost got up and left the theatre. as difficult as this film was to watch, i'm impressed by the film maker's willingness to tell this story. i also feel compelled to learn more about this time period, and to talk to my relatives who experienced it first hand. amu is by far the most moving film i have seen at this year's film festival, if not of all the films i have ever seen.

tonight i'm going to see another potentially dark indian film. as i write this, i beginning to wonder what i'm doing to myself, and what my emotional state will be like after the film fest is over. i seem to be a glutton for this kind of punishment....