Film Festival, August 2023
The film festival is organized by the Cinema Club, Rani Birla Girls’ College.
During the course of the festival, the films will be screened everyday at 12 PM and will be available to watch till 7th August.
To watch the films and to know more about each film, click on each film’s title below. This will take you to the individual page for each movie. Around 12 PM on the scheduled day, each film will be screened on its individual page. All films screened during the festival will have English Subtitles which can be enabled by clicking/tapping the “CC” icon.
4th August: Goynar Baksho
“Goynar Baksho” (transl. The Jewellery Box) is a 2013 Bengali language Indian horror comedy film directed by Aparna Sen. The film is based on the novel “Goynar Baksho” and a short story “Rashmonir Sonadana,” both written by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. It illustrates the life, changing status, and shifting priorities of three women from three different generations, all in relation to a jewellery box or ‘Goynar Baksho’. This famous tale by Mukhopadhyay explores the women’s changing position in society as the box of jewels is handed down from one generation to the next, reflecting evolving societal roles and values.
Watch the film here…
6th August: Ghare Baire
“Ghare Baire” (transl. The Home and the World) is a 1984 Indian Bengali-language romantic drama film directed and written by Satyajit Ray, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s 1916 novel of the same name. The novel illustrates the battle Tagore had with himself, between the ideas of Western culture and revolution against it, a theme embodied in the characters Nikhilesh and Sandip. The film, starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Victor Banerjee, Jennifer Kendal, and Swatilekha Chatterjee, offers a complex portrayal of themes such as nationalism, women’s emancipation, spiritual and materialistic perspectives on life, and the tension between tradition and modernism. Interestingly, Ray prepared a script for the film as far back as the 1940s, long before his first film “Pather Panchali.” “Ghare Baire” was in competition for the Palme d’Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali at the 32nd National Film Awards.
Watch the film here…
7th August: 12 Angry Men
“12 Angry Men” is a classic 1957 film directed by Sidney Lumet, based on a teleplay by Reginald Rose. The story unfolds in a jury room where 12 jurors are tasked with determining the guilt or innocence of a teenage boy accused of murder. At the outset, the evidence seems overwhelmingly against the defendant, but one juror insists on careful consideration of the facts, instigating intense debate and discussion among the jurors.
The film is a gripping courtroom drama that explores themes of justice, morality, and prejudice. It’s renowned for its powerful dialogue, strong performances, and its ability to create tension within a single, confined setting.
Watch the film here…