An academic’s passion for Indian cinema has led to her organising a special film screening in the community this Friday.
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) lecturer Dr Monia Acciari, an Early Career Academic Fellow in Film Studies, feels it is important to celebrate one of the most diverse cities in Europe through film.
So, in partnership with DMU Square Mile India, DMU Local and the Cinema and Television History research group (CATH) Dr Acciari will present a free screening of the award-winning ‘Queen’ at Belgrave Community Centre on Friday 27 January from 6.30pm. It is hoped this could lead to more events like it being held in Leicester.
Dr Acciari, who hails from Italy, said her passion for contemporary Indian cinema was awoken more than a decade ago when she met her husband, who comes from India.
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She said: “There is a revolution going on in modern Indian cinema. I started watching Bollywood movies but, having been raised on Italian cinema, I was naturally drawn to the auteurs less present in the mainstream.
“Bollywood is important but there is so much more to cinema in India. There are films in local languages and many of them show the changes in Indian culture and the tensions existing between traditional and modern life there.
“There are so many places in the US and Europe that celebrate Indian cinema so surely we should do the same in multicultural Leicester.
“I have chosen to show Queen at the Belgrave Community Centre because it is at the heart of the community and I want films to bring people together and celebrate the diversity of Indian films. The film also reveals a lot about modern women in India.”
Queen tells the story of Rani, an under-confident Punjabi girl from New Delhi who sets off alone on her honeymoon to Paris and Amsterdam after her fiancé calls off their wedding. It has won several awards and critical acclaim.
The free screening is limited to 100 places. If you would like to book call Josh Hargreaves on 0116 2078680 or book via the online Eventbrite link HERE
Posted on Thursday 26 January 2017