SYNOPSIS

29-11-2023
10:30 am / Screen 1 (First year Class Room)

FARHA
Jordan, Sweden, Saudi Arabia / 2021/
Colour/Drama/ 1h 32 min

Director
Darrin J Sallam

Set in the backdrop of the Nakba, the 1948

displacement of Palestinians from their home-
land, the film follows a 14-year-old Palestinian
girl – Farha. Her father hides her inside a locked
pantry giving a promise to return. While wait-
ing for her father she helplessly watches from
the locked cellar, the catastrophe that turns
her village into ruins. She is forced to witness
the worse of humankind, as fleeing villagers
are captured and questioned by the invading
military forces. ‘Farha’ captures both the iso-
lating terrors of war and the lingering beauty
that can colour recollections of dispossession
— a mental record of the last laugh shared, the
faint smell of freedom before the void of exile.
30-11-2023
9:30 am / Screen 1 (First year Class Room)

THE RED
BALLOON
France/1956/Colour/Fantasy/34 min

Director
Albert Lamorisse

This beloved short film tells the enchanting

story of a young boy in Paris who befriends a
sentient red balloon. The balloon follows the
boy through the streets of the city, and a mag-
ical bond forms between them. The film beau-
tifully captures the innocence and wonder of
childhood as the red balloon becomes a sym-
bol of joy, friendship, and the imaginative pos-
sibilities that transcend the everyday routine.
“The Red Balloon” is celebrated for its simplic-
ity, visual poetry, and universal appeal, making
it a timeless classic in the realm of short films.
30-11-2023
10:45 am / Screen 1 (First year Class Room)

A HERO
Iran, France/2021/Colour/Drama/2h 7min

Director
Asghar Farhadi

The movie centres around Rahim, a man serv-

ing a prison sentence for a debt he cannot re-
pay. During his temporary release for 2 days, he
finds a bag of gold coins and faces a moral di-
lemma. As he grapples with the consequences
of his choices, the film delves into themes of
societal judgment, personal integrity, and the
challenges of doing what is morally right. Far-
hadi’s storytelling skilfully navigates the ethical
grey areas, offering a compelling exploration of
human character and societal expectation.
30-11-2023
2:00 pm / Screen 1 (First year Class Room)

L’Avventura
Italy/1960/Black and White /Romance
Drama/2h 23min

Director
Michelangelo Antonioni

Anna, a rich, carefree heiress, is engaged to

the architect Sandro. The couple along with
a group of friends embark on a yacht trip to a
desolate island in the Mediterranean. During
the excursion, Anna mysteriously disappears.
A search for her is organised, meanwhile, San-
dro comes closer to Anna’s best friend Claudia.
As the search becomes increasingly futile, the
film evolves into a contemplative exploration
of the characters’ emotional states and the
existential ennui that permeates their lives.
Considered as a landmark film in the history
of Italian cinema, Antonioni’s visual poetry,
marked by long takes and breath-taking land-
scapes mirroring the emotional emptiness of
the characters “L’Avventura” creates a haunt-
ing cinematic experience.
30-11-2023
2:00 pm / Screen 2 ( Model Class Room)

Night on Earth
United States/1991/Colour/Drama
/2h 9 min

Director
Jim Jarmusch

The movie takes place over a single night, cap-

turing five taxi rides in different cities world-
wide. Each segment introduces a unique set
of characters and explores diverse human ex-
periences within the confined space of a taxi.
From Los Angeles to New York, Paris, Rome,
and Helsinki, Jarmusch threads together sto-
ries of connection, loneliness, humour, and
fleeting encounters. The film creates a mosaic
of the night, depicting peculiar and intimate
moments between passengers and taxi driv-
ers. It highlights the universal aspects of the
human condition against the backdrop of city
lights and nocturnal urban landscapes. “Night
on Earth” is a reflective and humanistic explo-
ration of shared experiences that bring peo-
ple together across geographical and cultural
boundaries.
01-12-2023
9:30 am / Screen 1 ( First Year Class Room)

Stalker
Russia/1979/Colour/Sci-fi Drama/2h
44min

Director
Andrei Tarkovsky

Film follows a guide known as the Stalker, lead-

ing his two clients —a writer looking for inspi-
ration and a professor seeking scientific dis-
covery— into the mysterious and dangerous
Zone— a restricted site of a long-ago disaster.
Within the Zone is the Room: a place where
one’s deepest desires can be fulfilled. The film
explores the psychological and philosophical
challenges faced by the characters as they
navigate the surreal landscapes of the Zone,
questioning the nature of reality, belief, and the
consequences of pursuing one’s deepest wish-
es. Tarkovsky’s “Stalker” is a contemplative and
visually striking journey into the realms of hu-
man desire and existential uncertainty.
01-12-2023
9:30 am / Screen 2 ( Model Class Room)

24 Frames
Iran,France/2017/Colour/Experimen-
tal/1h 54min

Director
Abbas Kiarostami

The movie consists of 24 short films or vi-

gnettes, each lasting four and a half minutes.
A series of sketches elaborate on Kiarosta-
mi’s fascination with photography, allowing
him to evoke the moments before and after a
photograph is taken. Kiarostami explores the
intersection of photography and cinema, us-
ing digital technology to animate and expand
upon static images. The frames capture vari-
ous scenes of nature and human life, prompt-
ing reflection on time, perception, and the art
of storytelling. It is a visually poetic and con-
templative work that invites viewers to engage
with the passage of time through a unique cin-
ematic lens.
01-12-2023
1:30 pm / Screen 1 ( First Year Class Room)

Fitzcarraldo
West Germany, Peru/1982/Colour/Adven-
ture-Drama/2h 38 min

Director
Werner Herzog

An epic adventure set in the heart of the Am-

azon rainforest, the film follows the ambitious
dream of Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, known as
Fitzcarraldo, who is determined to build an op-
era house in the jungle and sees a way to fund
his project by exploiting the region’s rubber re-
sources. To achieve his goal, he hatches a plan
to haul a steamship over a mountain from one
river to another. The film is a visually stunning
and metaphorical exploration of human deter-
mination, obsession, and the clash between
civilization and the untamed wilderness. Her-
zog’s “Fitzcarraldo” is a testament to the in-
domitable spirit of those who dare to pursue
their grandiose dreams against all odds.
01-12-2023
1:30 pm / Screen 2 ( Model Class Room)

Vagabond
France/1985/Colour/Drama/1h 45min

Director
Agnès Varda

A stark and poignant exploration of freedom

and societal detachment, the movie shows the
journey of Mona, a young drifter, who roams
through the French countryside during winter.
Through a series of fragmented and non-linear
narratives, we encounter various individuals
who briefly intersect with Mona’s life. Uninter-
ested in conventional societal norms, Mona’s
existence becomes a symbol of rebellion and
nonconformity. Varda weaves a complex narra-
tive that unravels the mystery of Mona’s past,
revealing the harsh realities faced by those
who choose to live on the fringes of society.
“Vagabond” is a raw and introspective work
that invites contemplation on the nature of
autonomy, human connections, and the con-
sequences of a life lived on the outskirts.
01-12-2023
4:45 pm / Screen 1 ( First Year Class Room)

The Return
Russia/2003/Colour/Drama, Mystery/1h
45 min

Director
Andrey Zvyagintsev

“The Return” revolves around two brothers

who unexpectedly reunite with their estranged
father after an absence of 12 long years. The
trio of Father and sons then embark on a fish-
ing trip. Their father takes them on a journey
to a remote island, but their secretive father
seems to conceal obscure plans and baffles
the teens with his bouts of temper and occa-
sional charm. Something sinister hangs in the
air. The film explores themes of fatherhood,
identity, and the impact of the past on the
present. Zvyagintsev’s “The Return” is a visually
arresting and emotionally charged exploration
of family dynamics and the search for meaning.
02-12-2023
9:30 am / Screen 1 ( First Year Class Room)

Irakal
India/1985/Colour/Psychological
Thriller/2h 22min

Director
K G George

This psychological thriller explores the intrica-

cies of the human psyche, focusing on the af-
fluent yet dysfunctional Matthews family. Baby
Matthews, the youngest of the four children,
is depicted as a psychologically disturbed in-
dividual. As the narrative unfolds, the film re-
veals complex dynamics within the family. Mat-
thews faces a moral dilemma as the ruthless
nature of his business life seeps into their per-
sonal sphere, leading Baby to give in to impul-
sive violent thoughts. In a chilling revelation,
the film exposes the consequences of a lack
of compassion on Baby’s troubled psyche. KG
George’s “Irakal” is celebrated for its intense
portrayal of psychological distress and its skil-
ful storytelling that weaves a tapestry of family
dynamics and personal unravelling.
02-12-2023
9:30 am / Screen 2 ( Model Class Room)

Pickpocket
France/1959/Black & White/Crime/1h
15min

Director
Robert Bresson

The film centres around a young man named

Michel who is drawn to the art of pickpock-
eting. Michel who spends his days working
the streets, subway cars, and train stations of
Paris deals with his compulsive pursuit of the
thrill of stealing. As he perfects his craft, his
fear that his luck is about to run out increas-
es and in turn the film delves into his inter-
nal struggles and detachment from societal
norms. Bresson’s minimalist style captures the
psychological nuances of Michel’s journey, ex-
ploring themes of existentialism and the con-
sequences of his chosen path. “Pickpocket”
is a contemplative and austere exploration of
morality and personal redemption. An elegant-
ly crafted, tautly choreographed study of hu-
manity in all its mischief and grace, the work of
a director at the height of his powers.
02-12-2023
2:00 pm / Screen 1 ( First Year Class Room)

200 Meters
Jordan, Palestine/2020/Colour/Adven-
ture Drama/1h 37 min

Director
Ameen Nayfeh

The story of a father who is separated from his

family by the Israeli separation wall. He must
find a way to cross it to reach the hospital on
the other side, for his son who had an accident.
The film explores the challenges and emotion-
al toll of daily life in a region marked by political
conflict, illustrating the resilience of familial
bonds in the face of physical and emotional
barriers.