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Dharamshala is always worth visiting but during this time of the year there is a particularly irresistible charm about it.
The 5th Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) is here, and as film connoisseurs, movie buffs, enthusiastic students and curious locals descend to partake of their share of heaven – films, food and great conversations are bound to thrive.
The first day of DIFF on Friday saw the screening of a diverse set of films.
Having won major awards at many festivals across the world, including the Locarno Film Festival and the National award for the best Kannada film, the packed auditorium watched in rapt attention the story of Century Gowda, a curmudgeon whose sudden death leaves an impact on an entire village and sets into motion the absurdly comic actions of his son, grandson and great grandson.
Comprising mostly non-professional actors, debutant director Raam Reddy’s eye for detail and the authentic character sketches make it a highly entertaining watch.
We meet Amer Daoud and Raghda Hassan, a Syrian family trying to hold on to some semblance of normalcy as the place they call home turns to rubble. The ongoing war not only forces them to live like refugees but also puts a strain on their relationship as fear and mistrust hold them captive.
We see Paris stripped of its ethereal beauty as the dark ugly underbelly of crime, prostitution and drugs increasingly blur the lines between tragic reality and surreal fantasy.
With each passing year, the number of films and film aficionados has only increased. Suffice to say the magnificent mountains are casting a spell that is difficult to shake.
The day two menu at the DIFF looks delectably interesting. The Quint will cover all the highlights from the second day.
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