Showing in Kolkata film fest, 2021: ‘Miss Marx’, ‘Laila in Haifa’ & ‘Dear Comrades!’

KOLKATA: The Nandan premises is all set to welcome

film buffs

at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival (Kiff). On Wednesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said Bengal’s brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan will virtually attend the inaugural ceremony on January 8. While no international directors will come for film screenings, the buzz around the physical screenings is palpable. The reason, said film buffs, is that KIFF is the first Indian on-ground film festival amid the pandemic.

Though Banerjee mentioned that KIFF will be held on a ‘smaller scale’, the bouquet of international movies is quite impressive. One of the most talked-about movies is on the life of the youngest daughter of

Karl Marx

, Eleanor. Susanna Nicchiarelli’s film titled ‘Miss Marx’ will be screened at the festival’s Cinema International section. The film portrays Eleanor as a strong feminist and socialist who takes part in workers’ battles, fights for women’s rights and abolition of child labour. It also shows her tragic relationship with Edward Aveling. The 107-minute-long Italian film had its world premiere at 2020’s Venice Film Festival.

Another interesting film is ‘Dear Comrades!’ The Russian historical drama about 1962’s Novocherkassk massacre is co-written and directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. It narrates the story of a communist Lyudmila, who — during a workers’ strike at the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant — witnesses the shooting on demonstrating workers by order of the Government Commission. Protests begin. Amid the chaos, her daughter disappears and Lyudmila is left searching for her everywhere. The film won the Special jury prize at Venice and is the Russian entry for the best international feature film at the Academy Awards. Then, there is Tunisian’s Academy entry titled ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’. In this Kaouther Ben Hania film, Yahya Mahayni plays the lead. He went on to win the best actor award in the Horizons section at Venice.

Ananya Chakraborti, a member of the film selection committee and head of the KIFF brochure editorial team, said, “I have heard a lot about ‘Miss Marx’ and ‘Dear Comrades!’ I will definitely watch both.” Amos Gitai’s Israeli-French film titled ‘Laila in Haifa’ that was in the main competition section of Venice International Film Festival also has many takers. The film, set on one night in a club that is one of the few venues where Israelis and Palestinians can socialize together, explores interconnected stories of five women.


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