Thiruvananthapuram

31°C

Partly cloudy

Enter word or phrase

Look for articles in

Last Updated Sunday December 20 2020 10:01 AM IST

Now 'Love', then 'Fire'; for the film 'passionate' IFFK crowd

G Ragesh
Author Details
Text Size
Your form is submitted successfully.

Recipient's Mail:*

( For more than one recipient, type addresses seperated by comma )

Your Name:*

Your E-mail ID:*

Your Comment:

Enter the letters from image :

Now 'Love', then 'Fire'; for the film 'passionate' IFFK crowd Poster of the movie 'Love' and crowd at Nishagandhi. Photo: Vishnuprasad S Pillai

International Film Festival of Kerala is hailed for a bunch of good reasons, right from the quality of the films and the high-level sensibility of the delegates who flock the capital city as if they are on an annual pilgrimage. Yet when it comes to the question -'what's hot this time' - the crowd becomes just that, may be too much 'passionate' about the art of 'show'.

Those who are doubtful, just ask someone about the ruckus the delegates created in front of Nishagandhi auditorium just to get a glimpse of Gaspar Noe's Love, the 'hottest' topic of all the film carnivals across the world this year.

Clashes were unleashed by those who did not get tickets for the show at the first screening of the much talked about erotic French 3D film Love at the 20th IFFK. Delegates turned unruly after people, who had reserved for the show earlier using the facility, were let in before the ones standing in the queue. Shameful, police had to bring the situation under control though no untoward incident was reported.

Now 'Love', then 'Fire'; for the film 'passionate' IFFK crowd Delegates waiting in queue before 'Love' screening. Photo: Rinku Raj Mattancheriyil

The shadows of 1997 'Fire'

The news may remind one of the 1997 IFFK where the delegates had literally gatecrashed into the main venue of Kairali theatre where Deepa Mehta's controversial film Fire was being screened. The delegates' temptation to watch Mehta's daring film which discussed the theme of female homosexuality and starred Nanditha Das and Shabana Azmi in the leads was so irresistible that it cost the government-run theatre a decent amount for maintenance.

Now 'Love', then 'Fire'; for the film 'passionate' IFFK crowd Stills from Deppa Mehta's movie 'Fire'

No, the crowd can't be blamed provided Internet was still Greek to the masses of the then Kerala.

The rush for a glance of Love which is all about falling in love and making love is not a phenomenon that is peculiar to Kerala. Even in the Cannes, dubbed as the paradise of those who are seriously into the business of film, the crowd was nothing but curious. And in Goa, where this correspondent was blessed with a ticket for the film, saw hundreds forming themselves into a zigzag under hot sun in front of Kala Akademy, the largest venue of IFFI. The film had a repeat screening there at midnight which also drew a houseful.

One may also remember that Danish film Nymphomaniac caused a similar situation in Goa last year when delegates who could not find a seat for the film with the luring title, staged a protest and barged into media room. And in last IFFK, it was Ukranian Tribe that forced some of the delegates to forget civilities and stay back at theatres even after the previous film to ensure a seat.

Now 'Love', then 'Fire'; for the film 'passionate' IFFK crowd A still from the movie 'Love'

Thin line between art and porn

As someone said, when it comes to films, the line between porn and art is too narrow. And the festival crowd must be art-craving.

Love has been slated for a repeat in Thiruvananthapuram also. Now the biggest mercy the volunteers could do is to keep an eye to stop the second-timers from denying entry for those who missed the chance on Thursday night.

Your Rating:
Your form is submitted successfully.

Recipient's Mail:*

( For more than one recipient, type addresses seperated by comma )

Your Name:*

Your E-mail ID:*

Your Comment:

Enter the letters from image :

Disclaimer

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Email ID:

User Name:

User Name:

News Letter News Alert
News Letter News Alert