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.
The highly acclaimed Kannada film Thithi seemed an apt choice as the opener.
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.
Also in attendance was Sean McAllister, who received thunderous applause for his compelling documentary A Syrian Love Story. Going beyond mere statistics about death tolls and collateral damage, he gives the Middle East crisis a human face.
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.
The other highlight of the day was Jeon Soo-il’s absorbing portrait of a man in search of his missing wife in A Korean in Paris. Sang-ho, who came to Paris on his honeymoon, now roams the streets in search of his missing wife Yeon-wha.
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 an aim to bring together the best of Independent cinema from India and around the world, filmmakers and longtime Dharamshala residents Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam initiated the festival back in 2012, wanting to give the local community a taste of alternate world-class cinema.
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.
Read More: Aamir Khan Loved Kannada Film Thithi
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)