City of God, May 11, 2008

Curiously enough, there is a congruence between the themes explored in our next film, City of God, and the dates May 11 and May 12. On May 11, 1998, the sub-continent went irrevocably nuclear. On May 12, 2007, the terrorists of MQM (as alleged by practically every serious commentator and analyst of the Pakistani political and socio-economic environment) unleashed mayhem on our crumbling City of Lights.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the film was nominated in several categories at the Oscars in 2003, won the best foreign film award at the British Independents in 2003, was nominated for the same at the 2003 BAFTAs, won the 2003 BAFTA best editing award and won or was in the running for awards at film festivals around the world. Perhaps the most intriguing and revealing citation was from the jury for the FIPRESCI prize, awarded to director Fernando Meirelles, at the 2002 Havana Film Festival: “For approaching the explosive theme of social exclusion, using an ambitious, complex and involving style of narration, without moralising or condoning violence.”

Show Information:
Date: Sunday, 11 May 2008
Time: 05:00 PM

Venue: Punjab Lok Rahs
Flat # 8, Third Floor, RB1, Awami Complex
Garden Town Lahore.
042 5940166, 0333 4320802

In This World, Friday April 18, 2008

This weekend, we’re screening In this World, directed by Michael Winterbottom.  This film won the 2004 BAFTA Film Award, the 2003 Berlin Film Festival Award, the 2003 British Independent Film Award, the 2004 Directors’ Guild of Great Britain and was nominated for the European Film Awards.

“Shot over five months in 2002, Michael Winterbottom’s In This World starts out as a documentary about the plight of Pakistani immigrants that travel by land to London in search of a better life, then quickly morphs into something more interesting. Telling a fictionalized story about real-life, teenage refugee camp inhabitants Jamal and Enayat, the movie opens with a voiceover explanation of conditions of the camp where they live and of the realities of the people-smuggling trade. There are less than five minutes of this narration, however, before the movie launches into the expansive tale of their journey to escape poverty. As they travel from city to city, by bus, foot, and boat, a 3D world map charts their progress, Indiana Jones-style.” – Jeremy Heilman

The Director
Michael Winterbottom 
Born in March 29, 1961 in England, Michael Winterbottom is a prolific British filmmaker who has directed fifteen films in the past twelve years. He began his career working in British television before moving into features.

His working style is more often to make actors improvise, rather than work exclusively from the script.

Show Information:
Date: Friday, April 18, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM

Date: Sunday, April 20, 2008
Time: 5:00 PM

Venue:
Punjab Lok Rahs
Flat # 8, Third Floor, RB1, Awami Complex
Garden Town Lahore.
042 5940166, 0333 4320802