An Interview with the 'Far North' Director Asif Kapadia whose film will be screened at the London Film Festival (17 Oct- 1 November, 2007)
Asif Kapadia, the director of acclaimed 'Far North' (2007) and 'The Warrior' (2002), says he would love to, one day, have the chance to work with Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Amir Khan,' adding that he just needs to find the right story.
In an exclusive interview with Pervaiz Alam of India-EU Film Initiative (www.iefilmi.com), Kapadia discusses his films and reveals his admiration for the Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan who starred in his award-winning film 'The Warrior'. He says 'working with the amazing Irrfan Khan was a dream.'
Talk of the international film festivals, Far North's director also known as London's Hackney boy Asif Kapadia, arrived on international scene with 'The Warrior' (2002), set in India. The film went on to get three BAFTA nominations in 2003 and won a number of honours, including the Alexander Korda Award for the outstanding British Film of the Year.
On one fine morning, Martin Scorsese called up Kapadia to say 'how much he liked the film.' Every film pundit gave him flattering reviews. Later, Kapadia said in an interview "when Martin Scorsese calls you on your mobile – that's the dream!" That was his arrival on international scene. Since then his second project- Far North- has generated a huge amount of publicity as well as curiosity among cinema lovers all over the world.
'Far North' was praised highly at the Venice Film Festival. Now, it's scheduled to be screened at the 51st The Times International Film Festival in London. A journalist wrote recently: It will take skilful marketing but there should be an audience for a film that so cleverly masks its intentions without betraying the monstrous turn it takes.
I ask Asif Kapadia, 'are you really having marketing problems?'
"The film is quite a dark tale, with a few surprises along the way. So once you see the film you will immediately understand what the journalist meant. It’s more to do with the fact that you have to be clever and creative to sell an independent film in such a busy marketplace, especially when you have a film which is trying to be a bit different or original," responds Kapadia.
'Far North', critics admit, is a challenge project for any film-maker. It's a dark epic tale, set in the harsh beauty of the Arctic, where SAIVA and ANJA struggle to survive on the frozen wastes. They are forced further North to escape Soldiers, taking over their homeland and settle on a desolate island. One day, a figure, LOKI, appears on the ice and collapses, close to death. Despite her fears Saiva saves him, and then comes the real twist. The film surprises every one with terrifying and tragic consequences.
'Far North' has been a real cinematic journey for Kapadia who began working in the film industry at the age of 18 as a runner in Harrow, where I live. Some inspiration, indeed! Kapadia tried his hands on every thing, rhyming or not rhyming with cinema. He worked on shorts, television dramas and features as a first assistant director, sound recordist, and assistant editor before going on to study films. Asif's graduation project 'The Sheep Thief' (1997), a 25-minute drama shot in India, created a sensation, winning him a number of awards, including the Second Prize in the Cinefoundation section of the 1998 Cannes International Film Festival, the Grand Prix at the European Short Film Festival in Brest and the Best Direction prize at the Poitiers Film Festival.
He describes his style heavily visual and less dependent on dialogues.
"I am still trying to make films that are cinematic, the story in FAR NORTH is revealed through the images, there is dialogue but not much. I would say I am still trying to develop my personal style as a filmmaker. The landscape plays a large part in all of my films."
His style of film-making means more work on research and more time spent on planning shoots in the world's most remote areas. Sometimes, it must have been quite painful, I ask.
"I don’t remember much pain… I enjoy making films so much. That’s why I do it. A film can take 4 or 5 years to make; it’s too hard a job to do unless you love it. Life is too short!
"I suppose working in the US was different as I had much less control over the project than I was used to with all my other films," answers Kapadia.
'Working with the amazing Irrfan Khan was a dream'The very name of 'The Warrior', Kapadia's debut feature film, makes him nostalgic.
"Making 'The Warrior' was a special experience. I felt so lucky, having the chance to make my first feature film. Working with the amazing Irrfan Khan was a dream, and it is always special when you see the younger actors like Noor Mani, who played the Thief, and Puru Chibber, who played the Warrior’s son, doing so well, growing up and becoming fine young men."
Many directors of Indian origin such as Mira Nair, Deepa Mehta, and Gurinder Chaddha have taken down a Bollywood route after making a name in international cinema. I can't stop myself asking Kapadia, 'have you ever considered this as an option?'
"I would love to, one day, have the chance to work with Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Amir Khan… I just need to find the right story. What is special about all of the [women] directors is the fact that they all have their own unique style and if I ever did it, I’d like to put my own fingerprint on the film," Kapadia finally suggests he's all for Bollywood stardom.
This brings me to the quality of Indian cinema. There's a growing noise in India about the non-visibility of India's cinematic presence at the festivals. A comparison is made between India and Iran, a country that, despite its problems, is producing good international cinema. But Asif Kapadia doesn't seem to be worried. In fact, he defends the Indian film industry.
"I think everyone around the world knows about commercial Indian cinema; it’s here to stay. It’s huge. It’s the biggest film industry in the world, and you cannot miss it! Maybe, what people around the world are not aware of is the wide variety of styles and filmmaking that is coming out of different parts of India. Apart from film festivals, I don’t know if the great ‘arthouse’ Indian films are being seen by international audiences."
'Far North' took you a long time to complete. Shall we wait before asking you 'what next?' I ask.
"Each of my films has taken a few years to put together. It’s just a nature of writing and directing films. They take a lot of time to research, plan and to finance. My co-writer and I have started work on a new screenplay, it’s very early days but we think the next one may take place in Latin America. Although, I would love to shoot another film in India with Irrfan."
Ends.
We are thankful to Rowan Woods of the London Film Festival Media Team for arranging the above interview with Asif Kapadia through emails.