Preview: Prague Indian Film Festival

However accomplished they often are, most Czech films exude a certain air of somberness, oppressiveness even. Offering a bright alternative to this month's cinema schedules then is the annual Prague Indian Film Festival, due to set the city ablaze with zany comedies, all-singing-all-dancing blockbusters and a handful of golden oldies for added glitz and garishness.

Radim Špaček, artistic director of the festival and director of recent Golden Lion winner Pouta, explains to The Prague Post what makes Indian films so distinctive.

"For sure it's the unique mixture of different narrative style, beautiful landscape, quantity of music, songs and dances and the stardom of the actors and actresses," he says. "Also, there's often a kind of social message which varies from Euro-American mentality."

This year's festival runs with the tagline "Pedaling Movie Experiences," with an accompanying comedy trailer depicting a couple watching a Bollywood movie from the back of a moving rickshaw, which is powering the screen. The theme, Špaček says, reflects the distribution of the many fresh Indian films he and his two co-organizers sourced for the festival while in India six months ago.   

Although Špaček admits that the Indian diaspora in Prague is not huge, past festivals have seen members of the Indian community taking along a number of their friends to watch films that remind them of home. Of course, since the films are English-friendly, many expats and students are to be found dipping into the exotic culture, too.

"The atmosphere in the cinema is very cosmopolitan," Špaček says. "The spectrum of our audience is really very manifold."

And how do Czechs react to Indian cinema?

"Some of them certainly think it's a bit over-the-top," Špaček says. "But as a filmmaker, I also feel that the Czech audience is fed up with ... bleakness. They want to enjoy a real expensive, colorful spectacle from time to time. And, of course, for us who miss India every day, it's a nice opportunity to move there for three hours."

Radim Špaček's picks

Udaan (Flight) A sensitive film about the complicated relationship of 17-year-old Rohan and his despotic father living in an industrial city, Udaan was selected for the Cannes Un Certain Regard competition and has won seven Filmfare awards. Oct. 7 at 6:15, Světozor

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobora (One Life to Live) A road movie about how a seemingly ordinary vacation in Spain ends up changing the lives of three men. Špaček describes this as a "typical Bollywood blockbuster with plenty of song and dance." Oct. 7 at 9, Světozor

Darr (Fear) One of the classics on this year's festival roster, this 1993 psycho-thriller stars Shah Rukh Khan - considered today among the great Bollywood actors - in his breakthrough role. Oct. 8 at 2, Světozor

Chalo Dilli (Let's Go to Dehli) A comedy involving the coincidental encounter of a businesswoman, a loud merchant and their consequent forced trip from Jaipur to Delhi. Features a special appearance from Yaana Gupta, the Czech actress and dancer who made it big in Bollywood. Oct. 8 at 5:30, Světozor

Band Baaja Baaraat (Wedding Planners) The modern love story of two disparate young people who put their heads together to set up a successful wedding agency. Oct. 8 at 8, Světozor

Others to look out for

Tere Bin Laden (Your Bin Laden) Arguably now dated by recent world events, this cheeky comedy about a young Pakistani reporter who feigns an exclusive interview with the ex-Taliban leader is by most accounts hilarious. It was banned in Pakistan. Oct. 7 at 7, Evald; Oct. 9 at 8:30, Světozor

Stanley Ka Dabba (Stanley's Lunchbox) The quirky tale of a young boy who relies on the charity of his fellow students for noonday nutrients. That is, until a peckish teacher gets in his way. Oct 7 at 9, Evald

All films are shown with English subtitles.

Will Noble can be reached at
wnoble@praguepost.com