AMADER KOTHA (OUR STORIES): Shorts
From Bangladesh
My Migrant Soul
Bangladesh 2000; 35 mins., Language: Bangla (English subtitles)
Director: Yasmine Kabir
The life of Shahjahan Babu, a young Bangladeshi migrant worker in Malaysia,
showing how his dreams dissolve into desperation, despair and death in
police custody. A searing indictment of the human costs of the international
export market of cheap labour emerging in the wake of globalization.
Direct-Direct
Bangladesh 2003; 6 mins., Music
DIRECTOR: Yasmine Kabir
Video Singer Pothik Nobi (prophet of the road) creates a soundscape about
thestreets of Dhaka. Director Kabir complements the music with colorful
views of Dhaka street life.
Out of Focus
Stories that have emerged about working class communities have invariably
been stories arousing sympathy for the poor and respect for the benevolent,
and have not addressed the politics of inequality and exploitation, or
the power of the elite. It was felt that images produced by working class
children, could perhaps overcome this inequality. This collective attempt
by these working class children of Mirpur, under the name OUT OF FOCUS,
and DRIK remains one of the few examples where such complete authority
has been questioned.
One Lokman
Bangladesh 2002; 10 mins., Bangla with English Subtitles
Director: Out Of Focus
Lokman is a ten-year old who has taught himself to play instruments. He
now accompanies his father, a blind street musician, on the streets of
Dhaka. Lokman dreams of being a big singer.
Flower Seller
Bangladesh 2002; 10 mins., Bangla with English Subtitles
Director: Out Of Focus
A day in the life of a young girl, who sells flowers to passing cars on
the streets of Dhaka.
Unison
Bangladesh; 2 mins., Music
Director: Catherine & Tareque Masud
Religious symbols, usually in direct clash in the modern world, blend
into one another-- highlighting the common roots and ending in a plea
for communal harmony. Created as opening logo for Indian Film Festival.
Let Me Live
Bangladesh; 6 mins., Music
Director: Catherine & Tareque Masud
Children laughing, playing, working, and studying. From child laborers
to middle-class children, a plea for the universal rights of child.
Content and order of films may change minimally.
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