Once Upon a Time in Calcutta
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Theatrical Screenings
Kinoteka 3
Kinoteka 3
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Film description
An enchanting, layered, meditative poem for the great metropolis, the cultural capital of the country, pulsing in the rhythm of the city and its inhabitants. People who are tired, and who have already been through a lot, but they are still hoping to find happiness and fulfillment. One of them is Ela, a former actress who, after the loss of her daughter, is seeking a way out through alcohol, and indifferently passes her husband in their apartment. This last spurt is supposed to bring her the freedom and change she so desperately needs.
The Turkish cinematographer Gökhan Tiryaki (who worked with Ceylan on "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia") shows Calcutta as a city that is both repulsive and lyrically beautiful, frozen still and flowing with the rhythm of everyday life, dying but constantly being reborn, layer after layer.
The oneiric atmosphere of this quiet, yet epic film, which Sengupta based on the stories of real people and places from his hometown, rhymes perfectly with Wong Kar Wai's "In the Mood for Love." Dive into this world, breathe in the aroma of the night Calcutta and discover its secrets – you won't regret it.
text:
Marcin Krasnowolski
Aditya Vikram Sengupta
Indian director, screenwriter and cinematographer, born in Calcutta in 1983, considered as one of the most intriguing filmmakers of contemporary Indian cinema. His debut "Labor of Love,"devoid of any dialog, premiered at the festival in Venice and gained critical acclaim. His next movie "Jonaki" was an international co-production and was streamed on Netflix. Together with his wife, Jonaki Bhattacharya, Segupta started a production studio For Films.
2014 Oczekiwanie / Asha Jaoar Majhe / Labur of Love
2018 Jonaki
2021 Pewnego razu w Kalkucie / Once Upon a Time in Calcutta