\; *Free to NY NATAS Members!
$15 for those w
ithout current NY NATAS membership.
\;
People believe the Ganges River in India washes away sins, cleans the sou
l and nourishes the spirit. The river is more polluted now than it ever wa
s in its history, yet it supports the lives of 400 million people every da
y. The film follows the hopes of activists to reveal a trail of sickness,
cancer and death.
\;
LIVING RIVER pene
trates deeper than the river&rsquo\;s murky waters into a controversy ridd
led with denial, disbelief, and damage: 25 years of delays and excuses tha
t pollute the river and choke the nation. This is the Indian clean-up plan
that was abandoned by the Indians\; a river forsaken by the very Indians
who believe in its sacred powers. What is the price of saving a 5,000̴
8\;year old culture based around river? What is the price of saving the Ga
nges?
\;
Employing a clever mix of observationa
l style ciné\;ma-vé\;rité\;, investigative journalism, a
nd formal documentary narrative, LIVING RIVER contrasts the true
beauty of the river with the ecological scourge of industrial wastewater p
ouring into the river. Aggressive and visually stunning images uncover the
failures of government programs and illustrate how unwitting illegal prac
tices by local businessmen contribute to the rampant pollution.
\;
LIVING RIVER&rsquo\;s exploration of mytholog
ical Hindu beliefs on the ancient sacred waters and the important role of
the cow in Indian society are pivotal counterpoints to the river&rsquo\;s
pollution and the slaughter of cows for its skin. As economic prosperity s
urmounts religious beliefs, the film deftly illustrates how Indian lowR
08\;wage laborers learn to survive at the cost of forsaking their religiou
s beliefs. The film offers unexpected stories, from the tanning industry t
o the life of Hindu priests, to illustrate how economic gain trumps age
208\;old religious practices. Throughout the exploration, LIVING RIVER
raises questions of accountability, failing government programs, and
encourages us to consider how rivers may be managed.
\;
About the Filmmaker:
Vinit Parmar:Assistant Editor, Camera Operator, Cinematographer/D
P, \;Director, Sound Mixer. Assistant Professor Vinit Parmer began his
film work as a sound mixer in New York in the mid-1990s after an establis
hed legal career. \; He enjoys teaching Film Production courses as a f
ull-time faculty member in the Film Department at Brooklyn College as part
of the City University of New York.
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RESERVATIONS REQUIRED DUE TO BUILDING SECURITY. ALL NAMES MUST BE
ON GUEST LIST. Please RSVP via email info@nyemmys.org \;to reserve a seat.Please write &ldquo\;Living River&rdquo\; in the subjec
t line. Space is limited. <
div> \;
Producer &\; Moderated by Sumner Jules Glimcher.