Delhi hosts 21st EU film festival

Treating the movie buffs of the national Capital, the 21st edition of ‘European Union film festival,’ marked a successful debut with the premiere show of Coriolanus, a British film, on Friday. 

This three-week-long festival, organised by Delegation of European Union and Embassies of EU member states in partnership with local organisations, will witness 24 award winning European movies from 24 European countries.

Inaugurated by Tomasz Kozlowski, Ambassador of the EU to India, the festival will traverse through 11 cities in India including Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Jodhpur till August 14. 

Welcoming film lovers from across the country Alan Gemmell OBE, Director British Council India said, “The festival is a fantastic opportunity to share ideas, use stories to bring us together and celebrate the shared love of film in India, UK and across the EU.”

The 24 European movies that will be shown in the festival are based on perennial themes – the redemption of love, the resilience of youth, and love for one’s family, presented in a contemporary manner and in accordance with today’s world. 

Bringing literary geniuses like Cervantes and Shakespeare to the screen, directors have given each story a modern setup and a 21st century story-line.  The opening movie, Coriolanus, a Ralph Fiennes directed Shakespeare drama highlighted the fickle-mindedness and hypocrisy of a war-torn Rome, where Martius, a great soldier and a man of inflexible self-belief despises the general populace. 

The hungry citizen of Rome are ready to listen to anyone who offers them false promises; manipulated and manoeuvred for political benefits, they banish Martius from Rome.  Thus, turning the great soldier into a vengeance seeking anti-hero, who joins his arch-enemy Aufidius and in the end is betrayed by him. 

This tragedy is another work of art from Shakespeare, after Antony and Cleopatra, that perfectly displays the fallacy of human psyche and the way it is affected by greed, pride and love. 

Portrayal of women has always acquired a special place in his plays and in Coriolanus, Volumnia— Martius’ mother, has an immense effect on his life. She is strong, determined and willing to sacrifice anything for her country.

The festival will be screening movies across varied genres ranging from the comedy of the absurd to gripping drama, unexpected romance and heart-throbbing action. 

“Films have a universal appeal. The European Union Film Festival has won a special place in the Indian film calendar and in the hearts of viewers by showcasing the wry, the unexpected, the beautiful and even the tragic events of ordinary lives in unfamiliar settings,” said Tomasz Kozlowski, Ambassador of the European Union to India.

More such award winning movies from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom will be screened in various locations across the city and the schedule can be found on their official website. The entry is based on first-come-first-serve basis, with mandatory registration.