Films: A melange of cultures and communities

(Top) Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise Norheim speaking at the event, (Bottom) a view of the audience. PHOTO: STAR

The programme culminated with the screening of a 90-minute Iranian film, Café Transit -- that had a powerful socio-economic and political message, and left an indelible impact on the mind.

Ahmed Muztaba Zamal said at the opening of the function that the Rainbow Film society had organised eight festivals so far which had won glory for Bangladeshi films, and exposed viewers to overseas films like the ones from USA, Russia, Japan, the subcontinent, Australia and Hong Kong. He stressed on the fact that the special sections of the films, as for instance the French classics, the Australian films, the women and children's sections went a long way in popularising films. He named the different venues of the films for the festival, the Goethe Insitut, Alliance Francaise and the National Public Library, as well as the Star Cineplex in the nine-day film festivities. During a seminar on films at the Goethe Institute, Zamal said, interesting papers are scheduled, such as the ones presented on Bangladeshi films by MR Kayas, and on Satyajit Ray by Buddhodeb Das Gupta, among others.

Muztaba Zamal, founder secretary general of the society and festival director, here from London, said, "The films here have been vital for promoting the cream of international culture. These will go a long way in promoting the appreciation of good films and raising the awareness about life the world over. Since 2000, Bangladeshi films are being shown in London in order to improve the image of progressive Bangladeshi society and its films." Zamal lauded the fact that there was no red-tape in arranging the programmes in London. "The same would be welcome in Dhaka as it exposes film makers and journalists from abroad to our society and vice versa," he said.

Richard Rodgers, the Acting Australian High Commissioner, said that films act as a connecting bridge among people from different cultures. "They provide another side of the story; they cross socio-economic and political barriers. Australian films have artistic and technical excellence that do not always paint a rosy picture. They have shaped film viewers and filmmakers who are enthusiasts of the unique Australian culture."

Aud Lise Norheim, the Norwegian Ambassador, speaking at the function said, "I'm impressed by the commemoration of Henrik Ibsen, which reflects the local knowledge and interest in Ibsen. He has proved that literature is indeed universal. The Rainbow Film society has screened films with interesting and impressive messages from world over."

Syed Marghub Murshed, chairperson of the society, said that international film festivals present poetry, drama and music on the screen, and blend the prosaic elements of life with the poignant ones. He said that through them, literature and the arts, the romance of history and the wonders of the world are witnessed by the viewers. The films, he said, were an escape from the mundane life of everyday existence. He concluded by saying that after a century of its discovery in France, films can still be experimental.

The chief guest, Foreign Minister, M Morshed Khan, said that the festival has an impressive repertoire of over 200 films and that this was no small feat. The films in the festival, he said, will present veritable feasts of films, which in themselves, are conclaves of cultures and communities that they represent. M Morshed Khan said that the festival will help refine our film industry and put us on the map of world cinema.