SUMMER INTERLUDE

FILMS ARE also well known as motion pictures that seem to be revealing a story through their constant motion. One such beautifully directed film that I have lately seen is Ingmar Bergman’s ‘Summer Interlude’. A well directed film that I would love to refer to solely as a motion picture.

Though the film is in Swedish (and I saw it with English subtitles), yet more than the words what captured me was the essence of picturesque quality that can be seen in every frame of the film. From the very first frame to the very last, what you can see is the master eye of the director in nuances of photographic techniques. Every frame portrays an emotion that connects directly to its audience, despite the language barrier.The film and its director belong to a class of ‘world cinema’. This is not the first film that I have seen of this director, I have also seen Bergman’s ‘Wild Strawberries’ before. That too was a very beautiful, emotional touching and moving film, but the experience of that movie lies on its dialogues. Though framing of shots and selection of locations is a point worth noting in that film as well, yet it relies equally on its dialogues and language so as to make its feel reach to the audience. On the other hand, I can well say what attracted me to praise ‘Summer Interlude’ was its beautiful composition style that make the emotions very clear even without any dialogues. It could have been a silent film as well. Moving beyond my ongoing praise for the compositions, there are things also that are worth praising like the story and story telling aspects of this film.

The central story of the film revolves around Marie (Nilsson) a young ballerina, who on a summer vacation meets a college-boy called Henrik (Malmsten) and falls in love. During one of the last days of the relationship, Henrik suffers head and back injuries that result in his death. Years later, Marie reflects on the mistakes she has made in life following Henrik’s death.There is something in the movie that I think almost everyone can relate to. It can either be the idea of dancing and enjoying what we do, or the haunting of the past, or the idea of first love, or how we suffer setbacks in life after we suffer some loss, or how we tend to make walls to protect ourselves from pains and sufferings after the setbacks and fail to realise what we wasted in that time.

These are the few of the central ideas that the story of this film revolves around.But the central theme remains of realisation, realisation that life is always worth living and realisation that one can only find out about ones true identity ‘only when the walls around us crumble’.The director here uses a very beautiful motif, something like a Shakespearean style of grotesque and character of a clown that merge in one here, as the Marie realises that its time for her to let go of her walls, face the truth and embrace what lies ahead. As in the climax of the film, we see that it is only after this that she again finds enjoyment and life in her dance and realises that there is someone, who again truly wishes to love her but whom she so far kept on the periphery of her world only.It’s a beautiful film with love, life, dance, passion and expressions of the actors that pierce you directly and close ups that make you feel sympathy as well as empathy for Marie.
I would say anyone wishing to experience of world cinema should get hold of this film.

AN EXPLORATION IN CINEMATIC FOYER

An exploration in world cinema has led me to experience different cinematic styles and genres. I wish to share here a few insights on the excellent movies of world cinema that I have seen so that you can grasp a beautiful side of motion pictures. Films provide me with an experience that is never short of being called an interesting journey. I love films and film industry. And lately along with commercial and indian art cinema, i have also divulged in the category of World cinema. please if possible do leave your comments on the same.

for research on Media

Hi friends,
as many of you are aware that I’m doing my MA in Journalism and Mass Communications, as a part of my final semester i have to complete a dissertation. I m doing a research on the topic "Study on Feature-based Shows on Indian News Channels". Below is a questionnaire based on my research. I will be grateful to you all if you take time to fill it up and sent it back, ASAP. Actually I m working a time crunch here and looking to all your support. (just copy it onto a word document, mark your choices and mail back)
Thanking You,
Damini Berry.


Study on Feature-based Shows on Indian News Channels.

Feature News is lifestyle and special interest news on a wide range of topics; such as from vacations to gardening and planning outings and entertainment. It is a prominent news story written like a piece of short fiction. They place a greater emphasis on facts that have human interest.

Questionnaire

1) How much time (daily) do you spend on watching television?
a. less than five hours
b. five to ten hours
c. More than 10 hours

2) Rate the following types of channels on basis of your viwership preferences.
(rate the below given options from 1 to 6; 1-being the most preferred and 6-being the least preferred)

a. General Entertainment channels
b. News channels
c. Sports channels
d. Music channels
e. Religious/Spiritual channels
f. Any Other

3) How much time, on an average, do you devote to a news channel?

a. Less than one hour
b. One to five hours
c. More than five hours

4) Rate the following content on News channels, according to your preferences.
(1-being the most preferred and 9-being the least preferred)

a. Headlines/News bulletins
b. International/National news
c. Political/Economic news
d. Sports news
e. Local news
f. Entertainment news
g. Human interest stories
h. Travel/outing/events based shows
i. Any Other.(please specify):____

5) What according to you is a ‘feature story’?

a. Detailed analysis of a news story
b. An infotainment story
c. An opinionated story
d. An entertainment story
e. All the above
f. Any Other (please specify):____


6) Which of the following non-news based shows do you prefer to watch (Multiple answers can be selected)

a. Entertainment shows
b. Shopping shows
c. Travel shows
d. Education shows
e. Development-based shows
f. Local outing and events shows
g. Others (please specify):_____


7) Do you follow any shopping or outing advices given in shows on News channels?

a. To a greater extent
b. To a moderate extent
c. To a lesser extent
d. Not at all
Please give your reasons for above selection of answer.



8) Do you feel News channels should have feature based shows?

a. To a greater extent
b. To a moderate extent
c. To a lesser extent
d. Not at all
Please give your reasons for above selection of answer.



9) Have 24x7 News channels increased the scope of feature based content on them.

a. To a greater extent
b. To a moderate extent
c. To a lesser extent
d. Not at all


10) Which News channels do you prefer to watch for non-news based or feature based content?



11) Which of the following channel do you watch?

a. Metro Nation
b. Dilli Aajtak
c. Both
d. Neither


12) Can you name any four shows on either (MetroNation or Dilli Aajtak) of the channels (in order of your preference).





13) Do you like to watch repeat telecasts of feature shows on News channels?

a. To a greater extent
b. To a moderate extent
c. To a lesser extent
d. Not at all


14) Any suggestions for the improvement of Metro Nation and Dilli Aajtak channels, in the following areas.

a. Content


b. Presentation


c. Time alloted


Please fill in the following details about yourself:
Name:
Gender:
Education:
Occupation:
Location:
Thank you so much for taking out time to fill out these questions. I am sincerely appreciative of your effort and patience. Your personal details will be kept confidential.
Sincerely yours,
Damini Berry
Email— damini_berry@rediffmail.com