Int'l film fest 2000 kicks off in capital

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KATHMANDU, Dec 1 - The four-day long Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 2000 was premiered amid a function here today.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, inaugurating the function at the Russian Culture Center, said that the festival will prove a good platform to discuss ideas related to highland people, their cultures and their environments.

Some 49 films, documentaries and features from 20 countries are to be screened during the festival. Also on display are the photos taken by five Himalayan photographers, including the Indian Envoy to Nepal Deb Mukharji.

Chicken Shit & Ash - A Visit to Paradise

What happens when two typical Tamang villagers from Dolakha land-up in a foreign land?

Cultural shock, yes. But, what director Karl Prossiliner has succeeded in depicting is the subtle humour of simplicity both the villagers portray on being transported to modern Vienna, Austria.

Bir Bahadur and Jeet Bahadur, two real Tamang men, have acted to the hilt the two reel life Tamangs.

The duo’s visit to a supermarket, a slaughter-house, an oldage home and a church are nothing less than Chaplinesque. However, Gabriele Tautscher’s anthropologist’s eye shows the first half of the movie, against it’s title, little too much of Nepal, though it might be captivating to the Western audiences.

The end, with Bir Bahadur in the middle of a busy Vienna street saying: "This is development" makes one to think -- despite the old beliefs "god created man by mixing chicken shit and ash", held by typical Nepalese -- they can shed their timewrap and adapt to the Western culture.

In toto, the movie is simply great, worth queuing again for a re-show on December 4 (3:50 p.m.).

The Fish of Gods

This docudrama on the river people -- the Rajis, the nomadic tribe in Western Nepal, is more engrossing to those who are impressed with the rich culture and beliefs held by the fairly unknown and disappearing communities in Nepal.

The story revolves around Fakir Bahadur, the chief of the Raji village of Ghatgaon, teaching his son go up the Karnali river in search of the golden maseer, the fish of gods. In the process, French director Jean Queryrat, has succeeded in highlighting the culture as well as the fishing methods naturally adopted by the fishing tribe.

However, after seeing the movie, some sceptical audience tend to ask: Where have the rapids of Karnali gone? The Rajis -- believed to be master of the flow of the rivers -- seems to have shunned it?

Yeti, the Call of the Snowman

The legendary "Yeti" has cast its magic spell again. This movie was well received especially by the locals, today.

The cinematography is great. The Langtang Valley has proved a haven not only for trekker and photographers, but for the movie makers too. The film leaves a clear message: The one responsible for the death of natural species, as the Dodo of Mauritius, if not the Yeti, is no other but man himself.

The story, more like a children’s movie, keeps the audience wondering with the belief that the monstrous Yeti, we have mostly heard of, may actually be wandering along the high mountains. But this time, this gentle giant has a very good heart.

Amnesty Nepal to hold mobike rally

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KATHMANDU, Dec 1 - Amnesty International, Nepal is organising a Mechi-Mahakali motorcycle rally in its effort to stop all forms of torture from the country.The rally will flag-off from here on December 3.

The rally will start from Bhadrakali on the morning of December 3, and reach Chitwan the same day visiting various police units on the way. The rally will then bifurcate, with one heading towards Mahendra Nagar (Mahakali) and the other to Kakarvitta (Mechi), reaching those destinations on December 6, stated a press release issued here today.

On the way, the rallyists will request all the police units to declare their area as "torture free zone".

The rally is organised under the slogan "Let’s End Torture and Establish a Civilized Society". Currently 153 nations are organising various programmes in support of the Amnesty International’s 14 month-long movement against torture.

Critic Prasai honoured

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KATHMANDU, Dec 1- Critic Ganesh Bahadur Prasai was honoured with the Rajib Lochan Joshi Memorial Academy Award by royal priest Nayan Raj Pande here today.

Prasai was honoured for his contribution to the field of literature on the occasion of the 72th memorial day of poet Rajib Lochan Joshi. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

Speaking on the occasion, royal priest Pande said "such awards will inspire those working in the field of literature".

Similarly, at the same function, former vice chancellor of Tribhuwan University, Trailokya Nath Uprety, launched two books entitled Naya Raj Panta: Jiwani, Byaktitwo and Krititwo and Rajib Lochan Ka Baraju Damodar Joshi written by Alka Sharma and Dinesh Raj Panta respectively.

Likewise, royal priest Pande also presented scholarships of Rs one thousand each to four girls from Nuwakot and Kavrepalanchowk. Funds for the scholarship were provided by the member secretary of the Academy Raja Ram Joshi.