Katalog 2004 - DOK.fest München

“In the post 9-11 world, the politics of intolerance is finding acceptance
within the mainstream, ‘nationalism’ is on the rise and the
right-wing seems to be tightening its stranglehold across USA and
Europe mainly on the anti-immigrant / anti-Moslem issue. The Indian
right-wing is legitimising its own agenda of politics of hate by
supporting the global War on Terror.
I find shocking parallels between India 2002-2004 and Germany of
the 1930s – the state-supported genocidal violence against Moslems
in Gujarat, its continuing impact – ghettoisation in cities and
villages, formal calls for economic boycott of Moslems and
attacks on intelligentsia by right-wing Hindutva cadres.
We have earlier lived through many dark periods in history, often
justifying our barbarism by using similar phrases. I hope this film
forces people to react and think, challenge popular opinions
(being handed down in easy-to-digest form across media) so
we build a world which has for its foundation peace, love and welfare
/ well-being of people rather than hate, despair, destruction
and tragedy.“ Rakesh Sharma on Final Solution
“Several years ago I realized that my films have to survive outside
the broadcast world, and travelling and screening my films in India
is very important for me – and I do it extensively. My films are
screened all over – in schools, colleges, film clubs, conferences,
by non-governmental organizations and in campaigns of different
peoples movements. I also feel that for films to survive they need
to find new homes and continuous screenings to small or large
numbers. That creates a situation where other people take the film
forward, allowing for the film to live and keep getting screened.”
Amar Kanwar, director of A Night of Prophecy
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