The TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival 2005 got underway today with a gala presentation of Deepa Mehta's "Water"
Deepa Mehta's film about a house of widows in 1938 India was shut down by Hindu fundamentalists five years ago, so she shot it in Sri Lanka last year. Eloquently humanist, the story follows a child bride who is sent to live with a group of widows that relies on begging or prostitution to survive. The colourful cast includes Lisa Ray (Bollywood/Hollywood) as a young woman who falls in love with a rich, modern-thinking devotee of Gandhi. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050908/WATER08 /TPEntertainment http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050907/WATER07 /TPEntertainment/ Some estimates indicate the 10-day jamboree will result in at least $67 million dollars going directly into Toronto's economy (in the next 10 days) from the laundry to the limousine drivers, restaurants to hotel rooms, etc.... 355 films will be played - 80% of them being premiered. Surely the IFFI in Goa can follow in the footsteps of other similar events around the world to benefit the local economy. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050908/CHARGE0 8/TPEntertainment/Film Best wishes - Bosco
