The Magic of Harry Potter

Open publication - Free publishing

Nine Queens (2000) - Fabián Bielinsky

Some interesting humour in a fast-moving plot, but easy to guess who is conning whom.

Ivan the Terrible parts I and II (1944) - Sergei Eisenstein

Expressionist imagery. Breathtaking lighting, use of space, close-ups, Christian iconography. The black-and-white images shimmer in the high contrast to render characters larger than life.

Kali Salwaar (2002) - Fareeda Mehta

The film is based on several short stories by Saadat Hassan Manto, one of the greatest modern Urdu writers. The interior of the film is painted by Bhupen Khakhar, a famous Indian painter. The stories take place in the underbelly of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay).

The director Fareeda Mehta graduated as a film director from the Film and Television Institute in Pune in 1989. She has worked on several films directed by Kumar Shahani and directed several short films and documentaries. "Kali Salwaar" is her first feature film. It has been shown in many international film festivals, including the Indian Panorama in the International Film Festival of India, Goteborg film festival, Rotterdam International film festival (2003) and Durban International Film festival (2003). It was nominated for 'Best Film' at the Bogota film festival.

In her own words: "Perhaps cinema is the best form to show the unfolding of Destiny. Destiny, not as predetermined fate, but as it is getting made – as an unfolding of time and events within time. It gets made as people meet and exchange – a few words, or a look, or money. Seemingly inconsequential encounters change you forever and each time. In "Kali Salwaar", I try to come close to this pulse of random movement and imperceptible ‘happening’."

For more information, see the following essay from the International Institute for Asian Studies http://www.iias.nl/nl/31/IIAS_NL31_19.pdf