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Mar 5, 2007
Media contact: Anne Russell
604-795-2826
or 604-504-7441, local 2826
Cell: 604-798-3709
anne.russell@ucfv.ca
Learn more about South Asia with Ehsaas film festival
Ehsaas means to reflect or come to realization in Punjabi and Hindi, and that’s what the UCFV’s Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies invites you to do by attending its first South Asian film festival.
Four films will be shown on consecutive Wednesdays starting on March 14.
This festival will showcase four powerful films -- Drowned Out, Rang de Basanti, Continuous Journey, and Dor -- that emphasize social consciousness.
Each film has significant historical and current relevance while highlighting social justice issues.
“The goal of the festival is to raise awareness, initiate dialogue, and encourage understanding on topics that are globally significant yet have local relevance,” said
Satwinder Bains, the director of UCFV’s Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies.
Each film focuses on a different area of the human condition, such as racism, poverty, and societal solidarity. The film-makers show human suffering, courage, and dignity in a memorable manner.
“The real power of these films is that they connect the audience with people who are normally not within their sight lines. In short, they will make you care,” said Bains.
The festival runs every Wednesday from March 14 to April 4. Films will be screened starting at 6:30 pm in the lecture theatre (room B101) at UCFV’s Abbotsford campus (33844 King Rd.). Admission is free and is open to the public.
For more information, please call the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at 604-854-4547.
Film Summaries
Wed, March 14
Drowned Out
Directed by Fanny Armstrong
An epic film that showcases the human cost of economic development by following the lives of Jalsindhi villagers as they attempt to fight the government’s plan to build one of the largest dams in the world, which will wipe out their villages and eradicate their way of life. Hunger strikes, rallies, police brutality, World Bank withdrawal of economic support, and a six-year Supreme Court fight fuel their desire to the right of life and self-determination.
A discussion will be led by Dr. Hugh Brody, Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Studies at UCFV.
Wed, March 21
Rang de Basanti
Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
A film anchored in the landscape of alienated youth, Rang de Basanti thoughtfully explores the politics of social change in contemporary India through developing continuity between anti-colonial struggles and post-colonial struggles for social justice today.
A discussion will be led by UCFV film instructor Rajdeep Singh Gill.
Wed, March 28
Continuous Journey
Directed by Ali Kazimi
This film is an inquiry into the history of Canada's exclusion of the South Asians by the Continuous Journey Regulation of 1908. This immigration policy served an effective way of keeping people from India out of Canada until 1948. As a direct result, only a half-mile from Canadian shores, the Komagata Maru was surrounded by immigration boats and the passengers held as virtual prisoners on the ship. Thus began a dramatic stand-off that would escalate over the course of two months, becoming one of the most infamous incidents in Canadian history.
Followed by panel discussion.
This film is generously sponsored by: BC Association of Social Workers (Fraser River branch), BC Association of Social Workers (multi-cultural and anti-racism committee), the UCFV School of Social Work and Human Services, and the UCFV Social Work Student Association.
Wednesday, April 4
Dor (“…the string of my freedom…”)
Nagesh Kukunoor
A moving tale of two women, both living in different parts of India. Their fate is strung together by one incident that changes both of their lives forever. The story follows the women as one undertakes a long journey to save her love, and the other dares to break the shackles of tradition and choose life as her heart wants it. Dor, on the empowerment of the weak, is a beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, and courage. The film is entertaining and also has multiple messages that are delivered in the subtlest manner.
Followed by panel discussion.
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