Spanish filmmaker Oliver Laxe: Traditions still alive in India

By Ahana Bhattacharya

Mumbai, Oct 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) French-born Spanish filmmaker Oliver Laxe has a high regard for Indian culture and traditions, and for him, coming to India is a sort of homecoming. This year, Laxe's film "Fire Will Come" was screened at the Jio MAMI 21st Mumbai Film Festival with Star. The filmmaker is in Mumbai to attend it.

Talking about India at the sidelines of the festival, Laxe expressed: "I know Indian culture a bit and the importance of India in history. So, coming to India is like coming back home in a way. You know you are in one of the most important places in the world."

He also requested Indians to keep their traditions alive unlike in many other places of the world where traditions are being gradually forgotten. Laxe said: "This is a place where traditions are still alive. Everywhere else there is only modernity, unfortunately. Indians protect their traditions and this is something we really need at this moment. We have lost the link and the roots. Don't make the same mistakes that we did in Europe. We are dying. It's over."

The filmmaker admitted that he hasn't watched a lot of Indian films but remembered watching one film that left a deep impact in his mind. "I still remember watching an Indian movie at a festival. I really enjoyed it. The filmmaker and actors are very popular. The film was dealing with the idea of destiny and the rules of the world. It was quite transcendent, even if people were dancing all the time. I think it was a very well-balanced film. It was deep and light at the same time and very powerful," he shared.

The film has impacted him in a way that Laxe wants to keep it in mind while working on his next. The filmmaker, who spent quite a few years of his childhood in Morocco, revealed: "My next will be an adventure tale. It's about people who are looking for a trance party in the desert of Morocco. I would also like to have the balance of the Bollywood film I just mentioned to you. It has an adventure inside."

He added: "I want to make a movie with a soul. We'll see if I have the capacity to do it and the inspiration."

Laxe also expressed his eagerness to visit the Mumbai film festival with yet another film next year, as he is impressed with the mindset of the Indian audience. "I wanted to know what people think about it, what they felt after watching it, so I am happy. Apparently, people here are very attached to the meaning of the preservation of nature. I don't know if I could put it in English properly," he said.

"Fire Will Come", which was screened at the Mumbai film festival this year. The film chronicles the journey of a man named Amador, who has been imprisoned for allegedly provoking a fire. After getting out of prison, he returns to his small village hidden in the mountains of rural Galicia to live with his mother and their three cows. Everything was running smoothly until another fire breaks out one night. The story then probes if Amador is innocent or a repeat offender.

The movie has been honoured with the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival this year. Laxe's previous two films "You All Are Captains" and "Mimosas" have also been winners at Cannes.

Source: IANS