As a film critic who has spent my fair share of time traversing the globe in search of captivating stories, I find myself deeply moved by the words of Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Lucy Walker. Her journey, much like her films, is a testament to the power of wanderlust and the human spirit’s insatiable thirst for knowledge and understanding.
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Lucy Walker, who has been nominated for an Oscar, kicked off a Saturday panel about traveling stories by sharing her personal journey of restlessness and exploration.
Growing up as a girl in London, I didn’t have sufficient funds to go on trips. I didn’t find the idea of taking a vacation particularly intriguing for exploring the world. However, I had an intense desire to travel, work, and learn about people. To fulfill this dream, I created a job that involves making documentaries, allowing me to traverse the globe. Walker shared this perspective as she attended the International Film Festival of India in Goa, having recently been honored with another award for her film “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lakhpa Sherpa” in New York.
Whenever I embark on crafting a movie, there’s always a burning curiosity that propels me forward – a question that captivates me so much I’d drop any task to uncover its answer: will they succeed in scaling the mountain? Will they emerge safe and sound?
She participated in a discussion with writer and commissioner Farrukh Dhondy, producer Anna Saura, actress Tannishtha Chatterjee, actress and activist Vani Tripathi Tikoo, and veteran producer Bobby Bedi.
Following the idea that many Indian filmmakers tend to limit their thinking beyond national boundaries, Bedi aimed to analyze the essential elements of stories that cross borders, breaking them down into both content and format.
Certain tales resonate with global audiences, such as those centered around displacement, love, and strong family bonds – experiences we can all relate to, exemplified by Mira Nair’s ‘Monsoon Wedding.’ However, it’s not just the themes that matter; the structure or form is also crucial,” Bedi pointed out.
He attempted to elicit a response by characterizing “Avatar” as a “tale of a modest tribe” being played out on a grand, multi-million-dollar platform.
Walker was the sole individual who teamed up with Bedi in delving into the subject of scale. “Frequently, individuals approach me and express, ‘This is a crucial topic. Create a film about it.’ I’ve made that error on occasion. However, I’ve truly discovered that when I tackle a substantial issue and attempt to transform it into a film that people want to watch, it becomes a challenging task,” Walker explained. “This is due to the fact that stories are essentially our way of storytelling. We empathize with people, following their journey, and can become invested. It’s much simpler to empathize with one person than a multitude.
Tikoo attempted to explain what storytelling entails. “Stories are essentially boundless entities,” she stated. “They connect with one another through love, emotion, sorrow, sadness [..] They can be expressed in any language, they can originate from any nation, but it will be the universal language that resonates, regardless of whether the medium is theatre, film, or simple writing. It can be pure brilliance,” she added.
Dhondy presented a high-level examination of the issue, drawing references from Indian and Greek mythology, renowned Indian actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, as well as legendary director Satyajit Ray. He noted that Kapoor’s films portrayed how the peasantry and urban poor battled for survival and progress, with those in suits always depicted as the antagonists. Instead of winning awards in St Petersburg or Moscow, Kapoor’s films received recognition where people could relate to the Soviet Union’s peasants.
Dhondy stood out among the panelists for his fiercely political stance. At one point, he expressed, “Sanskrit suggests that all of humanity is a single family. However, I prefer not to share this family with figures like Trump or Netanyahu,” he stated.
I myself have delved into the unique contrast between storytelling in India versus abroad. Here in India, our narratives thrive on television, often characterized by boisterous and triumphant theatrical cinema that is quite straightforward. On the other hand, emotions in the West are more subtly expressed. However, stories that authentically reflect local experiences, yet encompass a universal theme, have a higher chance of resonating globally.
Dhondy succinctly highlighted the contrast between local and global issues, leaving the audience both surprised and amused by his unexpected conclusion.
“That universal theme is perhaps best illustrated not by a film, but a song, a song genre called reggae. Bob Marley’s songs are extremely specific to Trench Town [Jamaica]. But when Marley says, ‘No Woman, No Cry,’ everybody in the world understands what he’s talking about. When he says, ‘Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights,’ even somebody like Elon Musk thinks he’s standing up for his rights, fighting the unions because I need to be a billionaire.”
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2024-11-23 15:47