Winner of the Audience Award at Red Sea International Film Festival, “How I Got There” is a unique film, as the first crime/action movie to be set in the Persian Gulf (Kuwait in particular), not to mention featuring Ron Perlman in a key role.
How I Got There is screening at Red Sea International Film Festival
Salem and Asad, two friends since childhood, could not be more different than each other. Salem is currently married with a gorgeous wife, who was, however, his second choice, and is working as an executive, in a job, though, that was essentially forced upon him and is utterly bored of. Asad, on the other hand, became a rap sensation at some point, only for his star to blow off as suddenly as it appeared, leaving him in the search of the one who jinxed him. Furthermore, Salem is almost always measured, careful and a man of few words,...
How I Got There is screening at Red Sea International Film Festival
Salem and Asad, two friends since childhood, could not be more different than each other. Salem is currently married with a gorgeous wife, who was, however, his second choice, and is working as an executive, in a job, though, that was essentially forced upon him and is utterly bored of. Asad, on the other hand, became a rap sensation at some point, only for his star to blow off as suddenly as it appeared, leaving him in the search of the one who jinxed him. Furthermore, Salem is almost always measured, careful and a man of few words,...
- 12/16/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
If you saw “Fire in the Mountains” at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, you’ve likely thought about it since. And if you didn’t, this debut feature from Ajitpal Singh may still yet burrow under your skin: Kino Lorber is releasing the film later this spring, including at New York City’s Film Forum.
Singh is a self-taught filmmaker who’d made only one short before making the leap to this feature, which debuted in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. “Fire in the Mountains” is bursting with the feeling of a filmmaker who has something to share: a point of view, a dramatic setup, and a stunning series of landscapes that you haven’t seen before.
The film is set in Uttarakhand, the northern Indian province that edges into the Himalayas and features emerald hills, snow-capped peaks, and startlingly clear skies. You feel healthier just by looking at the place.
Singh is a self-taught filmmaker who’d made only one short before making the leap to this feature, which debuted in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. “Fire in the Mountains” is bursting with the feeling of a filmmaker who has something to share: a point of view, a dramatic setup, and a stunning series of landscapes that you haven’t seen before.
The film is set in Uttarakhand, the northern Indian province that edges into the Himalayas and features emerald hills, snow-capped peaks, and startlingly clear skies. You feel healthier just by looking at the place.
- 4/25/2022
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
In his debut feature, “Fire in the Mountains”, self-taught directorial Ajitpal Singh, quite contrary to the title, unhurriedly paints an intimate portrayal of a troubled family. Though peaceful pace doesn’t mean lack of substance. And the tensions at the fundamentals of characters’ conflicts are sparks only waiting to burst into flames.
“Fire in the Mountains“ is screening at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
The story is set in a Northern Indian village in Uttarakhand, with a scenic mountain backdrop of Himalayan landscapes. Cinematographer (Frenchman Dominique Colin) films them in their whole profound and breathtaking beauty. It may seem that local people are living in a dream. But their reality is far from idyllic. Chandra (Vinamrata Rai) runs a homestay Swizerland. It offers guests great views and, as being located far from a road, also silence, a treat much-needed by those looking for a weekend getaway. But the pros are also the cons,...
“Fire in the Mountains“ is screening at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
The story is set in a Northern Indian village in Uttarakhand, with a scenic mountain backdrop of Himalayan landscapes. Cinematographer (Frenchman Dominique Colin) films them in their whole profound and breathtaking beauty. It may seem that local people are living in a dream. But their reality is far from idyllic. Chandra (Vinamrata Rai) runs a homestay Swizerland. It offers guests great views and, as being located far from a road, also silence, a treat much-needed by those looking for a weekend getaway. But the pros are also the cons,...
- 5/25/2021
- by Joanna Kończak
- AsianMoviePulse
A poignant blend of science and culture, Ajitpal Singh’s feature debut Fire in the Mountains was inspired by the director’s own experiences with religiously-influenced loss, conceived in the aftermath of his close cousin’s death. An enigmatic and intoxicating experience, Singh weaves a subtly complex narrative through a family’s multicultural conflict between healing through science versus religious faith.
Residing at the top of a Himalayan mountain in the Northern Indian village of Uttarakhand, Chandra (Vinamrata Rai), the mother of a wheelchair-using boy, attempts to save enough money to properly treat and take care of her son. When the only medical provider in the small village fails to find a diagnosis, she moves on with the goal of building a road to take her son Prakash (Mayank Singh) to physiotherapy. However, Chandra’s husband, Dharam (Chandan Bisht)––a fervent believer in traditional religion––disagrees heavily with Chandra’s science-based methods.
Residing at the top of a Himalayan mountain in the Northern Indian village of Uttarakhand, Chandra (Vinamrata Rai), the mother of a wheelchair-using boy, attempts to save enough money to properly treat and take care of her son. When the only medical provider in the small village fails to find a diagnosis, she moves on with the goal of building a road to take her son Prakash (Mayank Singh) to physiotherapy. However, Chandra’s husband, Dharam (Chandan Bisht)––a fervent believer in traditional religion––disagrees heavily with Chandra’s science-based methods.
- 3/1/2021
- by Diego Andaluz
- The Film Stage
The snow-capped mountains in the distance jut into a sky as blue as a jewel. The hill community beneath those peaks is covered in the lushest green grasses. Livestock are grazing everywhere. And tourism is taking off. Who wouldn’t want to fill their lungs with this fresh, clean mountain air?
Switzerland? No. It’s Uttarakhand, a state in the north of India, nestled along the western border of Nepal. But at first glance it’d be easy to mistake the Himalayas for the Alps, and that’s a similarity the central family in Ajitpal Singh’s “Fire in the Mountains” very much wants to play up. (The original title of the film was “Swizerland.”) Singh tells a personal story loosely inspired by a real-life family tragedy. This tale of parents driven to distraction by an ailing child — and doing whatever they can to get him treatment despite the most...
Switzerland? No. It’s Uttarakhand, a state in the north of India, nestled along the western border of Nepal. But at first glance it’d be easy to mistake the Himalayas for the Alps, and that’s a similarity the central family in Ajitpal Singh’s “Fire in the Mountains” very much wants to play up. (The original title of the film was “Swizerland.”) Singh tells a personal story loosely inspired by a real-life family tragedy. This tale of parents driven to distraction by an ailing child — and doing whatever they can to get him treatment despite the most...
- 2/4/2021
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
“Fire in the Mountains” opens with a perfect introduction, the kind that propels audiences into curiosity about a character they’ve only just met. We are on a country road with a breathtaking Himalayan backdrop, witnessing an urban family vacationing in the region negotiate with a sly, salesman-y guide. He insists that the family choose the homestay he represents, gradually lowering his price, but not quite to their satisfaction. Then Chandra (Vinamrata Rai) interrupts the conversation with her serene, non-pushy authority. She will gladly accept less money. Her homestay comes with a view and modern toilets. It’s also away from the bustling noisy roads, though not all that far on foot. After her skillful negotiation, we watch the petite, soft-spoken but no-nonsense woman carry the family’s heavy suitcase up a mountain trail without breaking a sweat.
This quietly memorable, feminist opening sequence exhibits debuting writer-director Ajitpal Singh’s...
This quietly memorable, feminist opening sequence exhibits debuting writer-director Ajitpal Singh’s...
- 2/3/2021
- by Tomris Laffly
- Variety Film + TV
Gently suggestive and mostly confined to richly detailed interiors, the contempo Mumbai-set “Sir” recalls Tran Ahn-hung’s “The Scent of Green Papaya” for its depiction of a furtive love blossoming between an upper-crust architect and his widowed domestic helper. Yet rather than reiterating Tran’s nostalgic fetishization of the docile Asian woman, tyro writer-director Rohena Gera emphasizes the female protagonist’s dignified struggle for self-sufficiency. Still a Cinderella tale of sorts, the film nonetheless gains gravity for its insight into Indian social rigidities that tether both impoverished villagers and well-heeled urbanites.
Like Rima Das (“Village Rockstars”), Gera is a female Indian director making her mark celebrating women’s empowerment against dire economic odds. Like Das’, her direction exudes a simple grace that transcends local issues. The Indian-French co-production could bank on sales agent MK2 to put it in festivals and art-house European theaters. With films like “Ilo Ilo” and “Sunday...
Like Rima Das (“Village Rockstars”), Gera is a female Indian director making her mark celebrating women’s empowerment against dire economic odds. Like Das’, her direction exudes a simple grace that transcends local issues. The Indian-French co-production could bank on sales agent MK2 to put it in festivals and art-house European theaters. With films like “Ilo Ilo” and “Sunday...
- 5/17/2018
- by Maggie Lee
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive/Film Bazaar: Director Rohena Gera makes fictional feature debut.
Following its return to film production with A Death In The Gunj, Studioz IDrream is set to produce Mumbai-set drama Sir, written and directed by Rohena Gera.
The film, which marks Gera’s narrative feature debut, revolves around the relationships between the middle class and their domestic helpers in Mumbai society. “The story tackles Indian taboos but I want it to be understood outside of India,” said Gera.
A successful scriptwriter with credits including Kuch Naa Kaho and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Gera made her directing debut in 2013 with documentary What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Studioz IDrream CEO Ashish Bhatnagar said he wanted to produce the film because “our company aims to tell Indian stories that can resonate globally”.
Bhatnagar and Gera are currently in talks with a potential French co-producer.
Rakesh Mehra (Qissa, Sunrise) is also on board the film as line producer...
Following its return to film production with A Death In The Gunj, Studioz IDrream is set to produce Mumbai-set drama Sir, written and directed by Rohena Gera.
The film, which marks Gera’s narrative feature debut, revolves around the relationships between the middle class and their domestic helpers in Mumbai society. “The story tackles Indian taboos but I want it to be understood outside of India,” said Gera.
A successful scriptwriter with credits including Kuch Naa Kaho and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Gera made her directing debut in 2013 with documentary What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Studioz IDrream CEO Ashish Bhatnagar said he wanted to produce the film because “our company aims to tell Indian stories that can resonate globally”.
Bhatnagar and Gera are currently in talks with a potential French co-producer.
Rakesh Mehra (Qissa, Sunrise) is also on board the film as line producer...
- 11/22/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Wind Beneath Her Wings: Kavaite’s Sapphic Sophomore Sighs
Sophomore is an adjective that serves as a pun to describe Alante Kavaite’s latest film, The Summer of Sangaile, a coming of age tale concerning a young woman that discovers herself over the course of one very important summer. However, a similar interest in her woes isn’t extended to the audience. Though featuring a handful of sexual encounters, Kavaite’s film seems to be dabbling in the homoerotic tendencies of its protagonist, an emotionally troubled youth with little drive to pursue her greatest dreams. But beat by strained beat, there’s nothing innovative or subtle in this adolescent’s journey to spreading her wings and, literally, flying high.
In rural Lithuania, 17 year old Sangaile (Julija Steponaityte) meets the audacious Auste (Aiste Dirziute) at a local air show where a stunt pilot shows off fancy tricks. It’s obvious...
Sophomore is an adjective that serves as a pun to describe Alante Kavaite’s latest film, The Summer of Sangaile, a coming of age tale concerning a young woman that discovers herself over the course of one very important summer. However, a similar interest in her woes isn’t extended to the audience. Though featuring a handful of sexual encounters, Kavaite’s film seems to be dabbling in the homoerotic tendencies of its protagonist, an emotionally troubled youth with little drive to pursue her greatest dreams. But beat by strained beat, there’s nothing innovative or subtle in this adolescent’s journey to spreading her wings and, literally, flying high.
In rural Lithuania, 17 year old Sangaile (Julija Steponaityte) meets the audacious Auste (Aiste Dirziute) at a local air show where a stunt pilot shows off fancy tricks. It’s obvious...
- 11/16/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Park City — It's probably somewhat remarkable that in 2015 a tale of summer romance between two teenage girls feels awfully familiar. Since gay-themed indies began to increase in notoriety in the '90s, there have been many of these dramas set both stateside and overseas. Director Alanté Kavaïté has a unique and talented eye, but she can only do so much to make this compelling material beyond its aesthetic charms. Our heroine is Sangaile (Julija Steponaityte), a 17-year-old spending the summer holiday with her parents in the Lithuanian countryside. We first meet her as she watches a stunt pilot's exploits at a local air show. She catches the eye of Auste (a wonderful Aiste Dirziute) who fixes a raffle so that Sangaile can get a free ride in the stunt plane. Sangaile will have nothing of it, though, and sullenly walks off, leaving a perplexed Auste to wonder how she can charm her.
- 1/23/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
From Lithuania and screening in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition, The Sound of Sangaile is a film that fuses a teenage girl’s coming-of-age story with a fantasy of flight. With a protagonist obsessed with stunt planes and plenty of aerial photography, Alante Kavaite’s feature posed challenges to cinematographer Dominique Colin — whose credits include, I must note, two masterpieces and personal favorites by Gaspar Noe (Carne and I Stand Alone). Below, Colin discusses those challenges and more. The Sound of Sangaile premieres on Sundance’s opening day, Thursday, January 22. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer […]...
- 1/22/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
From Lithuania and screening in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition, The Sound of Sangaile is a film that fuses a teenage girl’s coming-of-age story with a fantasy of flight. With a protagonist obsessed with stunt planes and plenty of aerial photography, Alante Kavaite’s feature posed challenges to cinematographer Dominique Colin — whose credits include, I must note, two masterpieces and personal favorites by Gaspar Noe (Carne and I Stand Alone). Below, Colin discusses those challenges and more. The Sound of Sangaile premieres on Sundance’s opening day, Thursday, January 22. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer […]...
- 1/22/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Friends With Money: Aging Europeans a Case Study in Robelin’s Sophomore Feature
Inevitably, Stephane Robelin’s latest feature, All Together (a mutated English translation of the original French title, which literally means If We All Lived Together? ) will be compared to this year’s contrived but hugely successful geriatric adventure, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, since this seems tailor made for that demographic. But this French feature, while not an overtly successful feature, manages to avoid feeling strained with false melodrama and hammy end-of-the-road wisdoms. Instead, this subdued venture gathers some legendary and some undervalued thespians for a pleasant, if inconsequential look at getting older.
Five friends that have regularly gotten together for the past forty years are all beginning to discover that they need to start planning soon for the inevitable. Anne (Geraldine Chaplin) and Jean (Guy Bedos) own a large home not fully utilized since their...
Inevitably, Stephane Robelin’s latest feature, All Together (a mutated English translation of the original French title, which literally means If We All Lived Together? ) will be compared to this year’s contrived but hugely successful geriatric adventure, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, since this seems tailor made for that demographic. But this French feature, while not an overtly successful feature, manages to avoid feeling strained with false melodrama and hammy end-of-the-road wisdoms. Instead, this subdued venture gathers some legendary and some undervalued thespians for a pleasant, if inconsequential look at getting older.
Five friends that have regularly gotten together for the past forty years are all beginning to discover that they need to start planning soon for the inevitable. Anne (Geraldine Chaplin) and Jean (Guy Bedos) own a large home not fully utilized since their...
- 10/17/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
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