What does an Indian man worshiping goddess Kali have in common with the indigenous population of Australia? More than we may possibly comprehend at first thought. Film director and actor Chayan Sarkar welcomes us in a world of dual spirituality, with an alternative film that is nourishment for the soul rather than yet another fancy movie plot dressed only to impress. In a western world that has turned into a constant rush and often seeks spirituality in the Asian religious traditions while missing their depth and essence like a vainly beautiful flower that is meant to fade, genuine positive vibrations often come to arise equally from the western land itself: the indigenous population of Australia, commonly known as Aborigines (although this term is not particularly preferred by the film director), undoubtedly are the first Australians counting thousands of years of existence, as well as warriors who believe that living on earth begins with dreaming; and the dream is the seed which blossoms and gives birth to the real world. As the film story unfolds, Hindu goddess Kali coexists with the Sleeping Warrior in the sacred Aboriginal locations through a workshop of meditation and celebration of blissful living, and is identical to spirituality in the forms of divinity, femininity and fertility, as a symbol of the woman in today's man-driven society. The breathtaking images of the Australian nature are emblazoned with magical Indian music, impressive Aboriginal art, dreamy Aboriginal singing and harmonious dancing moves by the exceptional Crusoe Kurddal, giving a note of peacefulness and spirituality in the film, as well as the additional erotic element between the two protagonists later on, like a fine pairing of the Indian and Aboriginal spirituality in the same space and time. All this is tangled up in an optical and erotic swirl with eclectic artistic and documentary elements, at a time when significant controversial issues relating to the occupation and use of the sacred Aboriginal land nowadays are being questioned, with the ruthless and uncivilized trespasser being the exact opposite of peace and harmony. This film, which premiered at the 3rd Peloponnesian International Film Festival (PIFF) in Loutraki and Korinthos in Greece on 1-9 December 2012, certainly demands ears that are willing to listen and open receptive minds withdrawn from the western norms and the usual cinematographic expectations, inviting us to another world, the world of the soul, and forcing us on a journey of esoteric pursuit, towards seeking spirituality not on its surface but in its true depth and essence. After all, it seems that there is still room for those who dare to dream, thus hope for a better future.
Lorena Kirk-Giannoulis & Ioanna Adamidou – Film Critics, Global Arts Studios , Greece.
Lorena Kirk-Giannoulis & Ioanna Adamidou – Film Critics, Global Arts Studios , Greece.
