03 December,2009 07:24 AM IST | | Ishita Sharma
An all-new French festival is in town and there's every reason for you to attend it
Not many would know that cinema originated in France before traveling world over. An all-introspective art exhibition takes you on a cinematic journey of the evolvement of cinema. Here's all the gyaan about the ongoing Bonjour India Festival.
New wave
New wave cinema was a blanket term coined by critics of a group of French filmmakers of the late 1950s and 1960s, who were influenced by Italian Neorealism and classical Hollywood cinema. A selection of eight films like Ascenseur pour l'echafaud, La baie des anges + La boulangere de monceau, Cleo de 5 a 7, Jules et jim, Alphaville and Le beau serge will be screened at the festival.u00a0
Through his eyes
Another interesting part of this French fest is the Albert Kahn exhibition. Albert Kahn was a famous French humanist and philanthropist. As a successful French banker, Kahn consecrated his life and fortune to the establishment of universal peace, creating numerous institutions to promote understanding between people, such as the "Around the World Society." As well, he established a thorough social and cultural iconographic diary, the "Archives of the Planet", which he assembled from 1909 to 1931. These archives consisted of auto chromes, the first industrial process for colour photography as well as black and white films.
Bonjour Indiau00a0 Festival
Screenings: PVR plaza, Connaught Place
On Till: December 8
Ring: 30410000
Albert Khan exhibition
Where: National Gallery of Modern Art, Jaipur House India Gate
Timing: 11 am to 7 pm, till December 28
Cut-N-Keep schedule
Ascenseur pour l'echafaud
December 5: 7.15 pm
After killing his lover's husband Julien Tavernier gets trapped in the lift. Meanwhile, his car is stolen by a young man who signs into a hotel with his girlfriend under Julien's name. During the stay at the hotel, the young man shoots a German couple with a gun he found earlier in Tavernier's car, and escapes.
La boulangere de Monceau
December 5: 9.15 pm
A student in Paris falls for an attractive young woman he sees every day in the street, but never expresses his love to her. One day when he finally decides to confess to he, she doesn't turn up. And this continues for several days. So he decides to spend some time every day waiting in the street for her. In the same lane is a bakery shop where he meets the baker's daughter and falls for her.
Cleo de 5 a 7
December 6: 7.15 pm
Cleo, a French singer doesn't accept the diagnostics' report in the fear of being detected for cancer. In the meanwhile, she has a brief affair with a soldier who'll soon go on a war.u00a0
Jules et Jim
December 6: 9.15 pm
Jules, a German, and Jim, a Frenchman, are two writers who strike up a close friendship.u00a0 They share a passion for literature, art and women. After a trip to Greece, where they study a statue of a woman with an enchanting smile, they return to France and meet Catherine, who seems to have the same alluring smile. Both men are attracted towards the young woman, but it is Jules she decides to marry.
Alphaville
December 8: 7.15 pm
Private investigator Lemmy Caution arrives in the strange town of Alphaville in search of Professor von Braun. The detective soon discovers that he has entered a bizarre world, totally alien to his own, where love has been abolished and emotion is punishable by death. At the heart of this seemingly totalitarian state is a computer developed by von Braun, Alpha-60, which seems to control the thoughts and actions of everyone in the metropolis.u00a0
Le beau Serge
December 8: 9.15 pm
Francois returns to his home town in rural France after many year. His childhood friend, Serge, has become an alcoholic, who's trapped in a loveless marriage. The town people resent Francois's presence and criticism of their ways, but Francois is determined to do what he can to help, especially his former friend, Serge.
