They are everywhere. In the city bus you travel. In the crowded local train you take. In the office you work, in the cinema hall you go to, in the neighborhood you pass through, in the school or college you attend and in the very house you live in. Women. Victims of age-old customs and society. Suppressed, helpless and frustrated. Some, silent. Some, not so silent. It's only when the latter type decides to give vent to their emotion does the world come to know how cruel truth can be. It's only when they give expression to their angst that we comprehend how unfair society is towards the fairer sex. And in the process, the human history also gets richer, courtesy, the masterpieces produced by them. Be those books or paintings or films, each work will bring us a unique and often heart wrenching story and open a million eyes to some naked truths and atrocities committed across the world. Both in developed countries and developing ones. (Not sure of truth seeing the light in the remaining world even after a million years.) And it is exactly this observation that droves us at ‘Short Cuts' to throw light on films made by women on women for women. This endeavor once took shape when we showcased ‘Women in Cinema' as our theme for ‘Short Cuts Monthly-Mini Film Festival' screening in June 2005, which received overwhelming response from the audience, media and women groups and many demands to screen more such films. Bowing to the pressure, ‘Short Cuts' was glad to announce the second installment of ‘Women in Cinema' . A set of four films made by four women, each one radically different from one another. A quick bite of each film described below would give you the taste of what is in store for you. A lavish feast with cuisines from different parts of the world including our own spicy Hyderbadi cuisine
‘Short Cuts' in its eighth edition of the monthly mini-festival screenings brought a collection of award winning and critically acclaimed short films In the Morning by Danielle Lurie, Tahara by Sara Rashad, Liquor V/S Living by Jyoti Patil, and The Loser by Sini on Sunday, November 20th 2005, 6:30pm at Prasad Lab's Preview Theatre as part of the theme ‘Women in Cinema – 2'. The Screening was followed by an interactive session with Jyoti Patil and Sini. The screenings was also followed by a personally recorded message for ‘Shortcuts' by Danielle Lurie and Sara Rashad.
When a young Turkish woman, Derya, 15, is brutally raped, her family rushes to avenge the crime in order to restore the family's lost honor. Because he will serve the shortest jail sentence, Derya's youngest brother, Baran, 13, who is handed a gun and ordered to murder the criminal - in the name of his family's honor. Baran comes face-to-face with the one who dishonored his home. It is at this moment that we discover what it means to have ‘dishonored' a family, and what it takes to bring this honor back. Based on a true story, ‘In the Morning' recounts the true events of an actual 'honor killing'.
Amina must decide if she will submit to family pressure to circumcise her daughter or abandon this age old tradition because of pressure she receives from her mother when her husband's away on a business trip. Does Amina find courage to save Suha from the brutal physical and psychological effects of female genital mutilation? ‘Tahara' represents the voices of women and girls who are suffering silently. ‘Tahara' breaks the silence. Women must know they are not suffering alone. Discover the controversy, horror, and cultural struggle surrounding female genital mutilation.
The poorest class of the society produces the hathbhatti liquor that is banned. When the society declares something illegal then it is the society's duty to see to it that it does not remain in the society. The fact that bootlegging goes on despite the anti liquor movements government bans, proves that the system is somewhere at fault. ‘Liquor V/s Living' talks of societal and legal biases, which on one hand snatch the basic right to livelihood from some and on the other lead to indiscriminate creation of wealth for the few.
As part of ‘Short Cuts' effort to promote local filmmakers and give them a platform to showcase their films on par with acclaimed and celebrated filmmakers from across the world, ‘Short Cuts' had the exclusive world premiere of ‘The Loser' by Sini.
The story of a slum dweller with macho looks. Chiseled features, dark skin, long curls, deep voice and expressionless eyes. And a rocky heart. Or so does it seem. Taking a long journey to his hometown. Only to realize the beauty of what is already lost. Or almost is. ‘The Loser'. A film by Sini. She may not have got the education to read and write but she sure has got an honest heart to tell a story of angst the way she wanted to tell it.
For more details about the films that were screened on 20th November 2005 please click the links below.
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