Hi Folks !
How are you doing ?!
It's raining Film Festivals in Pune along with cats and dogs !
This week, there was a Nepali Film Festival and then, within a couple of days, the Thai one !
I saw 2 Nepali films.
Their culture, faith, superstitions - it is so very similar to Indian ones.
They could have been Indian films !
The Thai films were different.
Gentler, quieter.
Let me tell you some of the stories !
' Eternity ' is about the spirit of a man which comes on a motorbike to revisit the town where he grew up as a lad.
Then the place where he meets his beloved.
There's gentle teasing, their simple lives, simpler dreams of future unfolding.
And then when she has to bring up the son and daughter on her own because he's died while driving without a helmet.
He's sad, in tears, because he loves them all so much and cannot be with them any more.
There was no harshness, no judgement -
Life flows on.
'Wandering' is about an alcoholic man mourning his young son's death.
His wife has left him and he's leading a hopeless life with his job gone too.
He encounters a solitary monk who gently advises him to follow his life.
After hesitating, stumbling a bit, he gets ordination and strives for peace of mind which he so desperately seeks.
Slowly. he learns the ropes.
He sheds his emotional baggage.
And when desire makes an appearance, with quiet determination, reaches for the heights surmounting all obstacles and entanglements.
This film is breathtaking in its storytelling, it's awesome locations, minimal dialogues and wealth of feelings.
The man's transformation from a long-haired. unkempt vagabond to a hesitant novice monk learning how to eat properly. meditate while walking, give blessings after receiving alms-food, and his final composure as he conquers his wandering mind and steadies it on the Buddha's path is very, very powerful.
Do not miss this film.
'A Gift', the third film was a riot !
It has 3 different stories which come together cleverly and beautifully.
All have lovely young couples who are intelligent, romantic and focussed on something larger than the mundane.
The culture of the Thai people comes across in these films.
The parents bring up their children with a lot of love and caring which is expressed in spending time, taking pictures, making happy memories.
It is true of the well - to - do as well as poor.
The children in turn, are gentle, soft - spoken and dutiful towards their parents.
There's romance, love, fun, laughter and music !
This film had everyone laughing heartily.
Don't miss this one too !
' The Songs of Rice ' was a documentary on Thailand's staple food - rice.
Growing it is very hard work.
Planting, transplanting, harvesting is back - breaking which people do stoically.
Once the crop is collected, the village fairs begin.
Their village games and dances and food was different, new.
Everyone participated, men and women, rich and poor.
Offerings are made in cash or a bag or more of rice.
Donations given to collect good merit for completing the Buddha temple or to the Bhikku community with utmost devotion.
The giving is very respectful, as is the receiving.
There are no castes, no hierarchy.
The dead ancestors are not forgotten either, with roasted rice balls offered to them.
The revelries are full of dance, music, some very naughty ones and finish with fireworks which are locally made ans quite astounding.
It was an eye - opener, this Thai Film Festival !
I hope they come every year !
In case you can catch any of these films - or any other, do watch !
So long for now -
Take care.
How are you doing ?!
It's raining Film Festivals in Pune along with cats and dogs !
This week, there was a Nepali Film Festival and then, within a couple of days, the Thai one !
I saw 2 Nepali films.
Their culture, faith, superstitions - it is so very similar to Indian ones.
They could have been Indian films !
The Thai films were different.
Gentler, quieter.
Let me tell you some of the stories !
' Eternity ' is about the spirit of a man which comes on a motorbike to revisit the town where he grew up as a lad.
Then the place where he meets his beloved.
There's gentle teasing, their simple lives, simpler dreams of future unfolding.
And then when she has to bring up the son and daughter on her own because he's died while driving without a helmet.
He's sad, in tears, because he loves them all so much and cannot be with them any more.
There was no harshness, no judgement -
Life flows on.
'Wandering' is about an alcoholic man mourning his young son's death.
His wife has left him and he's leading a hopeless life with his job gone too.
He encounters a solitary monk who gently advises him to follow his life.
After hesitating, stumbling a bit, he gets ordination and strives for peace of mind which he so desperately seeks.
Slowly. he learns the ropes.
He sheds his emotional baggage.
And when desire makes an appearance, with quiet determination, reaches for the heights surmounting all obstacles and entanglements.
This film is breathtaking in its storytelling, it's awesome locations, minimal dialogues and wealth of feelings.
The man's transformation from a long-haired. unkempt vagabond to a hesitant novice monk learning how to eat properly. meditate while walking, give blessings after receiving alms-food, and his final composure as he conquers his wandering mind and steadies it on the Buddha's path is very, very powerful.
Do not miss this film.
'A Gift', the third film was a riot !
It has 3 different stories which come together cleverly and beautifully.
All have lovely young couples who are intelligent, romantic and focussed on something larger than the mundane.
The culture of the Thai people comes across in these films.
The parents bring up their children with a lot of love and caring which is expressed in spending time, taking pictures, making happy memories.
It is true of the well - to - do as well as poor.
The children in turn, are gentle, soft - spoken and dutiful towards their parents.
There's romance, love, fun, laughter and music !
This film had everyone laughing heartily.
Don't miss this one too !
' The Songs of Rice ' was a documentary on Thailand's staple food - rice.
Growing it is very hard work.
Planting, transplanting, harvesting is back - breaking which people do stoically.
Once the crop is collected, the village fairs begin.
Their village games and dances and food was different, new.
Everyone participated, men and women, rich and poor.
Offerings are made in cash or a bag or more of rice.
Donations given to collect good merit for completing the Buddha temple or to the Bhikku community with utmost devotion.
The giving is very respectful, as is the receiving.
There are no castes, no hierarchy.
The dead ancestors are not forgotten either, with roasted rice balls offered to them.
The revelries are full of dance, music, some very naughty ones and finish with fireworks which are locally made ans quite astounding.
It was an eye - opener, this Thai Film Festival !
I hope they come every year !
In case you can catch any of these films - or any other, do watch !
So long for now -
Take care.
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