Two Italian films at IFFI 2019

Two critically-acclaimed Italian films, Despite the Fog and Marghe and her Mother, will be screened at the 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which begins in Goa on November 20.

Despite the Fog chronicles the story of a Muslim refugee child who loses his parents during his journey to Italy, and finds shelter in an Italian couple’s home in a small province of Rome. The film, directed by renowned filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic, will open the festival. Paskaljevic is one of Europe’s most respected independent directors. Born in Belgrade (Serbia), he studied at the Prague School of Cinema (FAMU). He has made 30 documentaries and 18 feature films, which were screened and praised  at the most prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian, to name a few. He was awarded the title of Officier desArts et des Lettres, the most important French title in the field of culture.

The nine-day festival will come to a close with the screening of Marghe and her Mother, directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf.

Marghe and Her Mother revolves around Marghe, a six-year old girl who lives with her single mother Claudia. Her mother has been kicked out of her house because of payment difficulties, leaving Marghe to an old woman next door.

The film marks a remarkable shift from Makhmalbaf’s previous works, which focused on effects of authoritarianism and revolution on the Middle East. Instead, it deals with issues of identity, social systems, moralities and other aspects of the younger generation.

The film festival will showcase around 200 films from 76 countries.