Completed - Other - Drama - 96 minutes
A Lonely Man Finds A Companion In An Insane Woman In A Dense Forest In The Western Ghats Of India. The Man Beyond The Bridge Revolves Around This Beautiful Relationship Only To Discover That Construction Of A Temple On The Forest Hilltop Is Forming A Threat To This Story Of Love.
Year of production : 2009 Director(s) : Laxmikant SHETGAONKAR Writer(s) : Laxmikant SHETGAONKAR Cast : Chittarajan GIRI, Prashanti TALPANKAR, Vasant JOSALAR, Veena JAMKAR
Vinayak, a forest guard, lives a lonely life in a Government house in the dense forests of the Goa-Karnataka border. His repeatedly rejected pleas for a transfer by his superiors in the Department of Forests have left him bitter. His only interaction in the forest is with the labourers who come to work on the teak plantation. Once they leave, he is left alone in the dark forest – he and his memories of his dead wife… On one such night, he comes across a filthy, unkempt woman lying in the compound outside his house. He drives her away, but she keeps returning. From his initial irritation with her filthy appearance and irate behavior, he slowly gets used to her daily visits looking for food and sleeping in the courtyard. With time, he begins to derive comfort from her presence …. the forest begins to come alive … after a long time. As days pass, their relationship grows. Vinayak cooks for her, narrates stories of his dead wife, takes care of her physical well being. Life is no longer the same and he now wants to cure her. But the village is riddled with superstitions and blind beliefs on how insanity can be cured. Vinayak’s relationship with the woman attracts some comments but evokes a strong protest only when she gets pregnant. The villagers question Vinayak’s right over an insane and helpless woman. They maintain that his relationship is morally incorrect and should be ended. However, for Vinayak the woman is his companion and mother of his child and there is no dilemma in his mind over this. Thus begins a conflict between a society that refuses to take responsibility of an insane person and one man’s endeavour to integrate her in his life.
Country(ies) : INDIA
Berlinale - Berlin IFF 2010 Forum