NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE & FEATURE FILM DEBUT
Director: Abhik Das
India | 2022 | 75 min | drama | Bengali, with English subtitles
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Based on a story by famous Bengali writer Narayan Gangopadhyay, The Faded Footprints (Lokkhir Paa) is set just before the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The film follows a coal mine labourer on his way back home with his newly wedded wife, immersing the audience in the couple’s ever-tighter relationship and growing fondness for each other through conversation and the picturesque spectacle of their journey. The added layering to Gangopadhyay’s original story — the author died just before the events pictured onscreen — also provides a sociological insight into the historical reality of the refugee crisis and food shortage that were raging at the time, expanding the protagonists’ personal story into that of Bengal itself. “‘Lokkhi’ is related to food”, said director Das in an interview with The Times of India. “During 1971, Bengal was reeling under a food crisis. Farmers were not able to get complete control over their grains. Consciously, I inserted the character of a farmer who has lost his land and is now a coal labourer, but his earnings have not improved.”
ABHIK DAS is a self-taught independent filmmaker from Kolkata, who cumulates the functions of director, screenwriter, editor, producer, colourist, and visual effects artist. In the last few years, he has directed, written and produced some award-winning shorts, including The Gift (2017) and Ticket (2019). Created during the COVID pandemic, The Faded Footprints is his first feature, landing in Ottawa after successful stints at the Kolkata International Film Festival, the Fajr International Film Festival, the International Film Festival of Thrissur and the Independent Producers Indie Film Festival in Bucharest.
scr.: Abhik Das | cin.: Tonmay Sarkar | ed.: Abhik Das | cost.: R. Wrik | art dir.: Ayan Mukherjee | snd: Manna | mus.: Manna | cast: Kajol Shambhu, Shabnam Mustafi | prod.: Abhik Das, Bidisha Bhaumik
The Journey Back Home (Birha)
Director: Puneet Prakash
India | 2022 | 25 min | drama | Punjabi, with English subtitles
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Set in a small Punjabi village, The Journey Back Home (Birha) tells the story of a simple, loving family that is torn apart by the immature actions of an ambitious child, fascinated by the lure of the West. His actions lead to devastating consequences and the road to redemption is long, lonely, and full of guilt. How often do we pray for the past to be rewritten? Alas, damage done is seldom undone. Can old wounds heal?
Trained in Los Angeles, PUNEET PRAKASH is a prolific, award-winning ad director, who has directed over 150 ads in the span of five years for famous brands such as Pepsi, P&G, Samsung and Lionsgate, often using a touching narrative style. His Gillette film on gender equality won the Cannes Silver Lion for India. Prakash also directs short films; his latest, The Journey Back Home, has already secured the Best Narrative Short Award at NYIFF, the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Gangtok International Film Festival and the Best Short Award in Amsterdam.
scr.: Hemant Singh | cin.: Pratik Deora | ed.: Mukesh Thakur | cost.: Vineet Chauhan | art dir.: Mukesh Kumar | mus.: Anand Bajpai | cast: Rajit Kapoor, Manav Vij, Sahil Mehta, Seema Kaushal | prod.: Ghalib Datta, Navneet Singh Gujral
Free parking during the screening.
$15 per ticket, plus H.S.T. ($1.95) & service fees.
