மணமக்கள்!

Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame

- K.S.Sivakumaran -

Readers please do not be alarmed by the heading of this article. It is only the title of an Iranian film made by the daughter of famous director from that country. It is not pro-Islamic or anti-Buddhist. The young Hana Makhmalbaf, director of the film says that: even a statue can be ashamed of witnessing all this violence and harshness happening to these innocent people, and therefore, collapse She said this when she was explaining her film which was shot under the remains of Buddha statues, which were destroyed by Taliban in 2001, in Banian of Afghanistan. The film is about affected children and particularly a young girl.

Twenty one year old Hana was responding to an interview by a journalist at the 2007 International Film Festival of Kerala. I was there.

The beauty and grief of present-day Afghanistan receives epic, poetic treatment from Hana says journalist Meerasahib. Although I missed seeing this film, the journalist's summing up of the film gives the viewer a fair idea of what the film is about.

I quote: "Set in Bamian the actual town where the destruction of cultural treasures sickened the world, the film is an exotic and frightening journey into the minds of the children who live in that deserted area and children affected by violence everywhere."

I couldn't refrain from thinking and feeling for the fate of our own children from all sides affected by the horrendous war within the country presumably ended.

The film centres on a little girl and her traumatic experiences, we learn.

Cinematically, 'the film artfully reveals all sorts of storyline surprises and political critiques despite its simple exterior. The little girl is almost too cute for words, evoking gushes of compassion toward her abundant trials' conclude the critic.

We must know something about the director. I saw her at close quarters, but did not have an opportunity to speak with her.

Hana's father, the famous Mohsen Makhmalbaf has a film school in Iran's capital Tehran. Hana studied there and familiarized herself in the art of filmmaking. She had made a short film and a documentary. The film under review is her first feature film. Hana is also a poet. Her book of poems is titled Visa for One Moment, we learn. She has already received recognition in international film festivals held in various capitals of the world.

Needless to say the more we see good cinema the more enlightened entertained we would become.

Interesting information is that the organizers of Tokyo Filmex Film festival is planning to publish a book of photography on Tokyo city through the eyes of famous directors in co-operation with Kodak, They have invited Hana to take part in the project.

sivakumaranksyahoo.com