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Documentaries descriptions 2007


TROIS FAMILLES EN INDE

De Roland Cros, 52’18’’, France 5, France, 2007, français

India is confronted to deep transformations which shake up the traces of this millenary civilization. It’s in the privacy of ordinary people that you can see best these changes. In three different regions, three different social environments, three families open to us their door, picturing a portrait on today’s India.


Pèlerinage au fil du Gange
De Mario Giampaolo, Rosnay International, 52’, France 5, France, 2007( ?), français

This documentary takes the viewer in the places the most sacred of India. The Gange, a mythical and secret river, gives its banks to the pilgrins the most fervent. The country is eminently religious and many worships mix together.

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Cachemire, Terre des Dieux
De Avita Lackenberger et Gerhard Mader, 48’, France 5, Autriche ( ?), 2003, français ( ?)

Each summer between 120,000 and 160,000 pilgrims embark on a journey to Kashmir to visit the northernmost holy shrine of Hinduism: the cave of Amarnath. The cave contains an ice lingam, a phallic symbol and in Hinduism also a symbol of Shiva's creative power. In this region where Indian and Pakistani interests collide, the Amarnath Yatra has become a favorite target of terrorists.


WAITING…
De Shabnam Ara et Atul Gupta, 39’, Under Construction, Inde, 2005, anglais, s.-t. anglais

A story of missing people-boys and men who were picked up by security forces and then simply disapeared. The location is Kashmir. Sandwiched between India and Pakistan, Kashmir is a battleground for both. Since the men are not declared “dead” their wives are not widows but “half widows”.


TACCUINO INDIANO
De Nene Grignaffini et Francesco Conversano, 50’, Rai Trade, Italie, 2006, italien, s.-t. anglais

Taccuino Indiano tells about Mumbai, nicknamed Bollywood, the capital and symbol of Indian cinema. The visit to severals sets at Mumbai’s Film City and to Natraj Studios, one of Bollywood oldest studios, illustrate the vitality recently being shown by the Indian film industry.


TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: AUROVILLE 36 YEARS OF RESEARCH
De Basile Vignes, 52’, CSR Auroville /CFI Auroville, France, 2004, français

The documentary presents 36 years of adventure in the research of lasting technology in the international town of Auroville (India). From an arid land to a forest, from a windmill to solar signs, 40 different nationalities mix with each other and work together.

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MAINS D’ŒUVRE
De Dominique Henry et Vincent Detours, 52’, Need Productions, Belgique /France( ?), 2007, hindi, maharati, tamoul, anglais, s.-t. français

Social workers of Nirman, an Indian non-governmental organization, starts discussing with the workers of nakas. Talking about health, they try to unify them so that they won’t be alone anymore and disorganized in front of employers.


MUMBAÏ, LE REVE ET LA DEMESURE
De Frédéric Soltan et Dominique Rabotteau, 52’, France 5, France, 2007, français

Each morning, a human wave breaks in the centre of Bombay, renamed Mumbai in 1996. Six millions of men and women arrive in the north suburbs of town. There are most of them workers in the financial centre of Bombay, the most important of the subcontinent.


SUNDARBANS, LES ILES DU SILENCE
De Isabelle Millard, 56’, Injam Production, France, 2007, français

At the heart of the Gange delta, a few people venture in the island of silence. The forgotten of the archipelago of Sundarbans yet survive. With shrimps, rice and wild honey as whole resource, they face malaria, tuberculosis, hurricanes, wild beasts with indifference. Outraged by their miserable condition, one of them Mohamed Abdul Wohab, gave up everything to save these people left alone.


SHAZIA
De Arvind Sinha, 30’, Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Inde, 2006, s.-t. anglais

This film is about aspirations and freedom. It presents the life and work of Rehana Adib who works with women from marginalised communities in Muzzafarnagar, Utar Pradesh, India. This geographical area has the highest crime rate in the country. Through this woman’s life and work, the film tries to understand the genesis of the emergence of a leade.

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AYODHYA GATHA (TALES FROM AYODHYA)
De Vani Subramanian, 61’, Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Inde, 2007, anglais, s.-t. anglais

Ayodhya- the center, the symbol of communal/ sectarian divide has determined the fate of India for decades. But what has the conflict done to life in Ayodhya?


BOMBAY CALLING
De Ben Addelman, Samir Mallal, 72’, Office National du Film du Canada, Canada, 2006, anglais

"Bombay Calling" takes us in the exciting world of late nights, large hours and noisy parties to show the rise of a new strength of Indian society, the teleoperators. Quick, raw and funny, the movie shows us in a fascinating way the culture of the Indian youth.


Future runs in India : ECONOMY (deuxième épisode)
De Ascania Baldasseroni, 30’, Devi Productions, Italie, 2006, italien, s.-t. anglais

Anand Mahindra, the deputy chairman of Mahindra, is one of the maharajaha of this new India. Worth almost four millions dollars, Mahindra & Mahindra is an industrial giant which produces passenger cars, tractors, jeeps and spare parts. Today it is one of the most important companies in India, a protagonist of the country’s modern-day economy.

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L’ESPRIT DES LIVRES
De Timothée Alazraki, Padminie Dufrêne et Adrien Roche, 26’, Avant Production, France, 2005, français

A ballad at the book fair of Calcutta: meeting between French authors and an event and his town not like others.


UN ŒIL SUR LA PLANETE : 1,5 MILLIARD DE BOUCHES A NOURRIR
De Gilbert Charles et Philippe Borel, 20’, France 2, France, 2004, français

Since independence, India succedeed to triple its population meanwhile feeding it. Big starvation of the 60’s disappeared thanks to the “green revolution”. But soils degenerate and the pollution of water table becomes a crucial problem. This year too, hundreds of farmers committed suicide in India.


LES JEUX DE GANESH
De Manuel Herrero et Benoît Grimont, 52’, Bonne Pioche Productions, France, 2007, français

Despite of a billion of inhabitants, we almost never hear talking about India in terms of sport, exept cricket. However, a country which invented yoga, ayurvedic massages or the kamasutra couldn’t be completely indifferent to the physical expression that represents sport! And games “100% made in India” are unknown in Occident, it’s maybe worth to discover them! It’s what did Manuel…


+ VE LIVING
De C. Vanaja, 30’, Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Inde, 2006, s.-t. anglais .

The story of HIV+ women, who defied destiny and peristed on their journey in life, against social ostracism and an uncertain future, with dignity and hope.

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GENDER BENDER
De Poojita Chowdhury (?), 20’, Women Broadcasters Network, Inde, 2007, s.-t. anglais

The film looks at the situation of women in India, through the eyes of women who have tried to break the gender barrier in everyday life and take on unconventional roles and jobs.


LOST ILLUSIONS OF THE LAST MAHARAO
De Elodie Lélu, 27’30’’, Diwali Productions, France, 2007, anglais, s.-t. français

In the heart of Kutch Vitum, Maharadja is lost between his past memories and his utopian ideas of the present. However, he sees his palace is falling apart, that the era of Maharadjas is definitely over.


SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS
De Robert André,86’, Mosaïque Films, France, 2005, anglais, s.-t. français

Through the exploration of the River Program and the philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamuti, the film takes us in the rural context of Andhra Pradesh and makes us discover the lifesytle of the locals, their traditions…


A SECOND HAND LIFE
De Nutan Manmohan, 30’, Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Inde, 2004, s.-t. anglais(?)

The film investigates the murky side of information technology, whereby tons of hazardous e-waste is seeping into developing countries like India. Through the experiences of two children, it explores the harmful effects on health and environment and possible solutions.


TALES FROM THE MARGINS
De Kavita Joshi, 24’, N/A, Inde, 2006, manipuri et anglais, s.-t. anglais

12 women strip themselves naked in public- in protest. A young woman has been on a fast-to-death, demanding justice; she is kept under arrest and is forcibly nose-fed. Why are these women using their bodies as their last weapon? A look at the grim human rights situation in Manipur, India…

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PASSE-MOI LES JUMELLES : BOLLYWOOD
Passe-moi les jumelles, 40’, TSR, Suisse, français

These numbers would make dream any western producer. Each day in India, more than 14 millions of viewers go to a cinema. This country produces between 800 and 900 movies a year. “Passe-moi les jumelles” followed an actress who left her small hometown to get a role in this fantastic megalopolis of dream.


L’HISTOIRE DE L’ARBRE LIBRE
De Anne Remiche-Martynow et Jacques Dochamps, 17’10’’, RTBF, Belgique, 2005, français

In India, the Neem or Marfevrier is a tree widespread among the whole country. It’s used like insecticide, medicine and disinfectant, but it’s also a sacred tree. Three women, whose Vandana Shiva, decided to challenge one of this patent. After 10 years of judicial fight, they won.


GASTON LE BIENHEUREUX- LA VERITABLE HISTOIRE DE LA CITE DE LA JOIE

De Sophie Jeaneau, 45’43’’, Doc en stock, France, 2005, français

The city of joy, it’s the other name of Pilkana, a shanty town deprived of the indian sub continent. It’s also the name of a Hollywood movie. This documentary suggests to comme back on the real story of the city of joy. And to go to meet his hero: Gaston Grandjean.

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HELLO BOLLYWOOD
De Pablo Tourenc, Cyprien Nozières et Eli Monge, 26’, La famille digitale, France, 2007, anglais, s.-t. français

“Hello Bollywood”is a meeting with the Indian popular cinema. We discover recepies of this cinema and the reasons of this gap which exist between Bollywood and the West.


BREATHING WITHOUT AIR
De Kapilas Bhuyan, 23’, Under Construction, Inde, 2004, pas de dialogue (fiction)

The Mundapotas, as a nomadic group in South Orissa, survive by collecting honey, capturing animals which are a menace to the granaries. Another source of their livelihood is the rustic road show called Mundapota, which thrills as well as entertains the village audience. “Breathing without air” is the tale of a father-son duo living in this community.


NEE ENGEY ? WHERE ARE YOU ?
De R.V. Ramani, 37’, Under Construction, Inde, 2003, s.-t. anglais

Shadow Puppet Theatre, has been prevalent and most popular, for many centuries in India. The Shadow Puppeteers are the “original filmmakers”who by manipulating leather puppets in front of light source, created moving images on the screen. Today, there are only a few shadow puppeteers still practising this art form. Stories and life sytles have changed.


MERE DESH KI DHARTI
De Sumit Khanna, 60’, Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Inde, 2006, s.-t. anglais

In our effort to achieve food security, have we compromised on food safety? The film investigates the impact of pesticides as it enters the food chain.

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