By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Musa Syeed
Starring: Gulzar Ahmed Bhat | Mohammed Afza | Neelofar Hamid
Country: india, united_states
Year: 2012
Running time: 82
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088967/combined
| Kyle says: “Although VALLEY OF SAINTS made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival three years ago, it is only now in 2015 receiving a general release. That it was shot during the 2010 Kashmir rebellion against India, with its crew encountering significant problems during rigidly enforced military curfews, makes one wonder about the long delay in offering it to the film going public. Early on we encounter a variant on the infinite lament of the disappointed young man who leaves home: ‘My father said we live in the Valley of Saints. He said I should feel lucky. And I did. I liked going to shrines with him. I pictured the Saints protecting me, taking care of me, letting me hang out with them and God. But I don’t believe in them anymore. If they were real, they forgot about Kashmir. I don’t know where they all went, so why shouldn’t I leave too?’“Best friends Gulzar (Gulzar Ahmed Bhat) and Afzal (Mohammed Afzal) find themselves unable to leave, confined to Dal Lake by the military curfew resulting from rampant political unrest. They behave much like young men anywhere, doing part-time work, fishing, swimming, playing games, watching TV, and becoming friendly with Asifa (Neelofar Hamid), an educated female houseboat client who is engaged in aquatic conservation research. Gulzar finds himself attracted to Asifa, creating the inevitable tension between him and Afzal. Not only do we observe Gulzar increasingly attentive to his dress and hygiene, but also we notice Asifa smiling and conversing more, looking happier and dressing more colorfully. ‘ “Asifa’s research paper called ‘Resilience in Kashmir’s Dal Lake’ becomes a metaphor for the difficult political transition Kashmir is experiencing: ‘The lake has changed. We can’t get back everything that was lost. But if we work with what we have, we can at least keep it alive.’ When Asifa is sickened by toxic sludge, Gulzar must dangerously defy the curfew in order to procure medicine for her. But finally military and civilian authorities agree to end the curfew, Asifa, Gulzar and Afzal go their separate ways, and life in Kashmir continues as at the beginning. This is a gently intoxicating film of small pleasures, carefully observed and lovingly photographed. 4 cats“Seen Friday, August 21, 2015, on Netflix, New York.” |
Valley of Saints