10th edition CIFF – 10-14 April 2024

Balekempa (The Bangle Seller) (2018 Feature Film)

A village bangle seller and his wife cannot conceive a child. The villagers gossip. In this close-knit patriarchal community in South India, hidden desires and relationships find a way to exist. Will the husband’s secret ever come out? An intriguing narrative in an elegantly directed debut with exceptional camera work. 

Ere GOWDA | India | 2018 | color | DCP | 103′ | Kannada | e.s.

Kempana, a village bangle seller, roams the countryside adorning the hands and faces of women with beauty products. Yet, he seems to have little time for his own wife. The couple’s inability to conceive is a concern of the whole family and a matter of village gossip. Kempana spends most of his time with his childhood friend Hanuma, while his wife seeks domestic and other help from the neighbors’ kid. Will the couple’s secret ever come out?

Unobtrusive camerawork delicately captures the scenic beauty and serenity of this patriarchal agrarian community in South India. The intrigue of the narrative and the minimalist directorial approach, together with the very genuine performances of non-actors from the village, including the director’s own grandmother, give a special charm and elegance to this film debut. Winner FIPRESCI Award, IFFR 2018.

Place: The Cinemas 3

Date: 13 April 2018

Time: 13:00

Duration: 1:17

Place: The Cinemas 3

Date: 14 April 2018

Time: 17:00

Duration: 1:17

Place: The Cinemas 6

Date: 15 April 2018

Time: 21:00

Duration: 1:17

Year in
Festival

2018

Director

Ere GOWDA

Camera

Saumyananda Sahi

Cast

Jnanesh
Bhagya Shree
Chandrashekar C.S.
Nagaraju D.P.

Country

India

Editor

Saumyananda Sahi

Language

Kannada

Length

103′

Music

Benedict Taylor
Naren Chandavarkar

Producer

Vivek Gomber

Production Company

Zoo Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

Production Design

Ere Gowda

Sales

Zoo Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

Scenario

Ere Gowda

Sound Design

Susmit Bob Nath

Year of Production

2018

Ere GOWDA

Ere GOWDA (1981, India) began his career as a security guard in Mysore, afterwards working various jobs. He worked at DWARKA, a non-profit organization, as videographer and archiver. Meeting Raam Reddy there, they started to collaborate on short films. Thithi (2015), of which Gowda was e.g. screenwriter, won 14 awards around the world, including the Golden Leopard for best debut feature in Locarno. The Bangle Seller (2018) is his debut feature as director.

 

Filmography

Balekempa/The Bangle Seller (2018)