European premieres on OFF PLUS CAMERA ’102010-03-04

From India to Krakow



OFF PLUS CAMERA organisers are busy preparing ”New Indian Cinema” – a presentation of the most interesting works in Indian cinema from recent years. Among nine carefully selected titles, two are especially appealing.  The reason for that is the character of their Krakow screenings: it will be the official European premiere for both „PAA” by R.  Balakrishnana and ”The Japanese Wife” by Aparna Sen.

„PAA” is the second film from R.  Balakrishnana, previously a creative director for Ad Agency Lowe in Bombay. The way his film tackles the family insitution in India, revising the conservative form in which it's traditionally treated, makes it quite special. The director tells a story of a 13-year-old boy named Auro, who suffers from an extremely rare genetic disease – progeria. It's characteristic symptom is ageing abnormally early. Against the odds, Auro and his mother, Vidya, seem to make a happy family. However, the boy's life is about to change, when he meets dreaming of a political career Amol, who turns out to be...Vidya's love from the student's years and Auro's father.



The woman behind „The Japanese Wife” is Aparna Sen – an actress, who appeared in works by such brilliant filmmakers, as Satyajit Ray and  Mirnal Sen, and the director of ”36 Chowringhee Lane”, ”Sati”, ”15 Park Avenue” and more. She's a frequent winner of prestigious prizes, including the highest distinction presented by the Government of India. Her new film, having its premiere at the Krakow festival, is an unusual love story about three shy and lonely people: Snehamoy, who's working as a teacher, a Japanese woman named Miyage and a candidate for the Snehamoy's wife, Sandhya. However, it's Miyage that the man chooses to be his partner, even if it means living apart from each other. „The Japanese Wife” is a touching account of difficulties and consequences that stand behind such choice, but is also about an extraordinary relationship between two people, who find themselves in a not at all ordinary situation.