Mysore Film Society

Film Appreciation Workshop (June 21 – 22)

Sat and Sun days I attended a Film Appreciation Workshop organized by our Mysore Film Society. I was a very enriching experience. Superb!
For guides, we had G.S.Bhaskar(cinematographer) and Prof.Manu Chakravarty (cine critique). The two are Gurus. Really.

We started with 2 short films.
1)Inja(dog) is South African and Australian collaboration. It’s about a white man, his dog and his servant (a Xhosa boy). Its a wonderful short film with an open-ended ending.

After some lengthy discussion (at one point it became a torture) we had a good lunch I am still happy about that lunch.

2) “Meshes of the afternoon”. The landmark movie by Maya Deren casting herself and only one other male actor. Run time 14:00 minutes! No sound (originally). It challenges your intellect and leaves you speechless by its surrealism. If one can read the clues (her name, sounds) right and recognize Buddhist influence one can understand it. This is my opinion.

The Prof. spoke at length about feminism (he didn’t say why or if it was related to the movie). So I formed meanings to symbols in the movie and boldly explained my derivations. The Prof. was irked by my self-assured manner and challenged me if I could decipher Allama Prabhu poem or a Zen koan. Luckily some other debate erupted among others and I made my escape.

3)”Devi” followed. A Satyajit Ray movie. It is a strong criticism of Hindu treatment of women or goddess. Especially when the two are MADE one. I did wait for the discussion.

Sunday was The day. WE watched only one movie. It was superb!
“Close-up”. Reenactment of a real-life incident in Iran. Make one take a close look at oneself and what we call as imposture. The Prof. declared that the greatest movies are about ‘fraud’ committed by imposture. It also made me think exactly what we know about oft maligned Iran. Everybody unanimously applauded at the end. What more, we waited to thew last of the ending credits although it was in Persian – a rarity in our film society.

G.S. Bhaskar is a paragon of humility. He is so considerate … not a vestige of hubris in spite of his accomplishments. He freely spoke about shooting and gave me some tips on photography. Would love to meet again.

I think this is what is knoen as ’satsanga’. What?