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Rebel cinema has to evolve: Miguel Littin

‘Our endeavour is to create a society which respects love, tolerance and freedom’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even while upholding the rebellious spirit of Latin American cinema, noted Chilean director Miguel Littin has emphasised the need for rebel cinema to evolve taking into account the changes that have taken place across the world.

“Film is a form of resistance, but you have to identify clearly what you are fighting against and what are the principles you are going adhere to. You must realise the world has changed.”

Mr. Littin was responding to questions at an Open Forum organised as part of the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) here on Saturday.

“The Latin America of now is not that of the 1960s, or the Seventies, Eighties or Nineties. It has changed completely. I cannot do now what I have been doing in 1960s. We have to identify the fundamental issues of present day society and express them in the films. If you continue to do what you have been doing in the past, there is a danger that you will also remain in the past,” he said.

Mr. Littin identified the onslaught of globalisation and the fall of the “ideological cathedrals” as the two distinct challenges facing the creative initiatives in Latin American countries.

The “monstrous” forces of globalisation are usurping the resources in all developing countries and putting them for the use of their imperialist designs.

The whole world is pushed into a homogenous entity depriving the distinct identities of the different sections of the people.

The whole world is being turned into a supermarket or shopping mall, he said.

“In Chile our vision has always been one of disappearance, because the Spanish colonisers had destroyed our culture, and even our language,” he recalled.

“On the other side, with the fall of the Soviet Union, the Left forces in regions like Latin America are now trying to form our own ideas and ideologies of resistance.

Our endeavour now is to struggle for the creation of society which respects the values of love, tolerance and freedom,” he added.

Chilean film director Rigoberto Lupez was also present at the Open Forum.

The competition section of the film festival began with the screening of the film El Rey San Gregorio of the Chilean director Alfonso Gazitua. In all, 14 films, including two Indian films, will be featured in the section.

The section titled ‘Indian Cinema Today’ also began with the screening of the film Zero Zone directed by Arindam Mitra.

The Malayalam Cinema Today section began with the screening of Thaniye directed by Babu Thiruvalla.

Director Kamal inaugurated the section.

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