-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nudity is hot property in Goa now Rashid Irani Monday, November 28, 2005 23:53 IST PANAJI: The inaugural film Olga from Brazil has turned out to be the hottest ticket at the 36th International Film Festival. A third screening, on public demand, was organised on Monday for the rather grim story of a politically radical woman whose last days are spent in a concentration camp. Although the film is downbeat, it has its share of female nudity which is drawing the audiences. Also, Michael Hanake's La Pianiste, featuring French actress Isabelle Huppert in several graphic scenes of nudity and sado-masochism, was packed to the gills. Instantly, there was a clamour for its repeat screening. The casualty of the unscheduled screening was Ultima Luna directed by Chile's Miguel Littin, who incidentally happens to be on IFFI's international jury. Evidently, the stalwart director was miffed about the cancellation but refused to speak to the press because of his jury responsibilities. Conversely, the demand of brand-new Indian films has intensified, especially among the press and delegates. Vishal Bharadwaj's Blue Umbrella was jam-packed. Its writer Ruskin Bond was present for the screening. Among the other film personalities who have reached the festival are Shyam Benegal and Om Puri, while Padmini Kolhapure was glimpsed briefly. Soha Ali Khan and Jackie Shroff are representing their Bengali film Antarmahal. The retrospectives of films by Italian director Lina Wertmuller and French actress Isabelle Huppert are drawing a fair amount of viewers. The interest is relatively low for Wertmuller because her films have been shown at a retrospective in Delhi about seven years ago. Huppert's retrospective is disappointing as it does not include her prominent films like Claude Chabrol's Violette Noziere, Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate and Jean Luc Godard's Passion and Sauve ki Peut. The package of Indian film musicals was inaugurated today with K Vishwanath's Shankarabharanam. Among other musicals, there are Amar Bhopali and Baiju Bawra. Foreign delegates, however, feel that besides the vintage musicals, some post-1970s musicals should have been programmed to provide a range of Indian song-and-dance extravaganzas. As is the wont of the Information and Broadcasting ministry, the festival director continues to work on an ad-hoc basis. Afzal Amanullah is the current chief who is grappling with the ongoing glitches and complaints about everything - from the handing out of screening invitations to the local bureaucracy to the absence of normal facilities like lockers and information schedules for the press. Former festival director Urmial Gupta is here, but the other festival regular - Malati Sahai who headed the event for nearly ten years - has not been able to make it as she sustained burn injuries on Diwali. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Take back & distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
