But, does anyone care? Here is a short list of some of the films shown: From the USA - THE TERMINAL, LIVING IN COLOUR, DISBELIEF (Russia/USA), and SHREK 2. And motion pictures from other parts of our world such as CITY GATES (Brazil), GOD LIKES WATCHING T.V. (Pakistan), DIRTY PRETTY THINGS (UK), WHITE NOISE (World Premiere UK), FROM ZERO TO TEN (Italy), ZELARY (Czech Republic-Slovakia-Austria), PANI (Pakistan), THE MIRICLE (Italy), A CERTAIN LIBERATION (Bangladesh), OUR TIMES (Iran), DON’T TOUCH ME WHEN I START TO FEEL SAFE (Scottish), THE SOUL’S HAVEN (Italy), GOODBYE LENIN (Germany), and SALAKHEIN (Pakistan). And they also showed movies from India, such as MAQBOOL, DHOOP, MANY PEOPLE MANY DESIRES, A DECENT SOMOSA, ROG (World Premiere), RAGHU ROMEO, HYDERABAD BLUES 2, WORDS ON WATER and LET’S ENJOY. 

The list shows the variety and lack of variety in countries participating. But the most important observation during my visit to Kara Film Festival is the courageous act of showing so many films from India. Plus, brave India filmmakers such as Mahesh Bhatt & Pooja Bhatt and stars like Om Puri and Irfan Khan actually attended and gave interviews and talks before large crowds of movie fans even though they were from India. Why is this such a big deal? 

Kara Film Festival is quite a revolutionary group of people. Indian films are strictly banned in Pakistan. The reasons are various but none stand up to any reasonable or sensible argument. For Kara Film Festival to show major films and documentaries from India is a brave act when you consider the fact that at any moment police or government troops or worse yet, intolerant Mullah leaders, could charge in and shut the whole thing down or blow it up. Each day I attended the festival I realized that I was putting myself in jeopardy. Even more, I realized that these brave artists in Pakistan and India were doing what all brave artistes do. They were confronting an unjust system and trying to change the status quo. Their courage makes the thought of the current Hollywood film revolutionaries’ pale in the face of such difficulties as these Pakistani filmmakers, financiers, distributors, exhibitors, Cinema owners and artistes that struggle each day against all odds to express their self as human beings inside Pakistan. 

The same is true of the Pakistani musicians who are creating some of the most exciting rock ‘n’ roll I’ve heard in a long time. But that is another story I will tell next time. 

Kara Film Festival is an oasis in a desert. The drops of water it brings to this country help to feed the young green artistes in Pakistan. Their revolution will not go unnoticed. It is already helping to shake up the system of tyranny of ignorance and I recommend all artistes who truly believe that art is important to flood the gates to the small festivals around the world. These festivals are where the new movie makers and future storytellers are growing. It is these storytellers who will reshape Hollywood. If you don’t believe me, think about Quinten Tarantino. From a video junkie he changed a part of the Hollywood scene. If he can take art and transform it into pulp fiction, artistes from another country can revitalize the motion picture art form and turn it into food for thought. Whether Hollywood accepts it or not, history will soon show that what is happening in Hollywood at this time in history is not as exciting as what is happening outside of Hollywood. I know. I’m seeing it. 
Copyright December 2004 Roy Ayers Baxter, Jr. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form of any kind is strictly prohibited without the permission of the copyright owner.