documentaries

Rakesh Sharma

India | 2004 | 148mins | Beta | Colour | Subtitled

A study of the politics of hate. Set in Gujarat during the period February 2002 to July 2003, the film examines the conse-quences of Hindu-Moslem polarization and probes the causes and consequences of the genocidal violence against Moslems in 2002 by right-wing cadres.

The film is divided into 4 chapters. Pride and Genocide examines the patterns of pre-planned violence which many claim was state supported, if not state sponsored. The Terror Trail reconstructs through eyewit-ness accounts the attack on Gulbarg and acts of barbaric violence against Moslem women at Eral and Delol/kalol. The Hate Mandate documents the poll campaign during the assembly elections in Gujarat in 2002. In particular the exploitation of the Godhra incident by the right-wing propaganda machinery for electoral gains. Hope and Despair studies the situation after the storm and its impact - ghettoisation, the call for economic boycott of Moslems and continuing acts of violence more than a year after the carnage.

Wolfgang Staudtz Award - Berlin Film Festival

Silver Award - Hong Kong Film Festival

David Flamholc

Sweden | 2004 | 105mins | 35mm | Colour | Subtitled

Take one obsessive explorer, one hard-bitten Nam vet, and 17 weeks in some of the deepest jungle in the world.

Having searched Ethiopia for the gold mines of King Solomon, sought the Birdmen of Peru's upper Amazon, and learned magic from the ""Godmen"" of India, author and explorer Tahir Shah feels sufficiently confident to undertake his most arduous journey yet: though Peru's infamous Madre de Dios jungle in search of Paititi, the greatest lost city on Earth. What he doesn't reckon on, however, is his guide: Richard Fowler - ex-Vietnam vet, combat specialist and jungle survivalist par excel-lence. The uneasy relationship of this very odd couple, as they search for a legend, is surprising, funny, gripping and astonishing.

Ramona Diaz

USA, Philippines | 2003 | 103mins | 35mm | Colour and Black & White | Subtitled

Few contemporary political figures have been as controversial and outspoken - and even misunderstood - as Imelda Marcos. Universally known by her first name, Imelda is the widow of the late Ferdinand Marcos, exiled president of the Philippines who maintained close ties with the U.S. even after proclaiming martial law in 1972. In spite of strict governmental control, opposi-tion to Marcos' regime continued to grow in the following years. After a controversial vote count in his 1986 run against Corazón Aquino, the widow of a slain political rival, Marcos was forced by a popular uprising to leave the Philippines.

Imelda marks the first time that Mrs. Marcos has agreed to tell her story and details her controversial rise from humble provincial origins with a combination of guile, ambition and beauty to become one of the richest and most powerful women in contemporary world history. She is both vivaciously charming as she addresses the camera and perplexing as she expounds upon her personal cosmology. She even addresses the question that is on everyone's mind: What about all those shoes?