Two-time National Award-winning director Rima Das’ short film For Each Other recently premiered at the renowned Pingyao Film Festival in China. The film, which is based on the universal theme, 'Neighbours' was screened in a packed auditorium on October 17 and appreciated by the audience and the critics alike. A co-production of BRICS, this film happens to be a part of the five-film anthology made by accomplished filmmakers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Celebrated filmmaker Jia Zhangke whose films have been regularly screened at the Cannes Festival including A Touch Of Sin, Mountains May Depart and Ash is Purest White, is the executive producer of Rima's film.
After the highly successful first and second BRICS co-productions Where Has Time Gone and Half The Sky, the same team is helming the third project, Neighbours, too. Through these co-productions, the member countries aim at developing stronger cross-cultural and diplomatic relationships.
Each of the films in the 'Neighbors' anthology explores not only spatial proximity but also interpersonal closeness. An ode to the local community and the earthy way of life of the Assamese villagers, Rima’s film narrates the story of Malti, an earnest shopkeeper and Ramen, a flamboyant tempo driver and together they act as a bridge between the quaint neighbourhood in Assam and the outside world. The story lies in what happens when this comfortable arrangement is disrupted.
”When I got to know that the theme for the BRICS short film is Neighbours, at that very moment I knew on what foundation my story would be built. I have fond memories of a strong sense of community in my neighbourhood - the one-on-one interactions people have on a daily basis, being involved in each other’s lives through joys and sorrows, through fights and differences, sometimes they are for and sometimes they are against each other," tells Rima.
The other films in this anthology comprise Olga’s Family by Beatriz Seigner (Brazil), To Stumble by Alexander Zolotukhin (Russia), The Neighbours by Han Yan (China) and Sizohlala by Jenna Bass (South Africa).
For Each Other is Rima’s next outing after the highly celebrated film Village Rockstars which was India’s Official Entry to Oscars 2019 and Bulbul Can Sing that bagged the National Film Award for the Best Assamese Film. The cast of the film For Each Other consists of Dorathi Bharadwaj, Lakshya Sarma, and Tutumoni Kalita.