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Fatal reaction

Movie Fatal reaction Director Marijke Jongbloed Producer na Cinematographer na Music na

WE know Netherlands as a country full of rustic beauty, with its tulipsand windmills having been immortalised in beautiful postcard pictures of itscountryside. At the moment, though, the country is promoting the othermedium, that of moving images. The Netherlands Film Festival opened in Mumbai on 3rd December afterhaving travelled to Calcutta and New Delhi previously. The festival is anattempt to focus attention on Netherlands cinema that has gone unnoticed inthe world of cinema. With a total of 20 films -- eight features and fiveanimations - it was a veritable cinematic treat waiting to be enjoyed. "We wanted Indians to savour the taste of Dutch culture and tradition -- and what better vehicle could we have chosen than our films? We have beenplanning a festival for a long time and we wanted to make people aware ofour great filmmakers who have created waves with their documentaries andanimations," said Netherlands` Consul General, Hans Knynenburg. Knynenburg also expressed his desire to take the film festival to smallertowns like Pune, Nagpur and Hyderabad. "People in these cities never get tosee any international films and I would like them to have the opportunity ofenjoying world cinema just as people in the bigger metros do." The package of films include Oscar winners like Character,directed by Mike Van Diem, Fons Rademakers` The Assault, andAntonia`s Line by Marleen Gorris. Also on the menu were animationfilms like I move so I am, by Gerrit Van Dijk and Maarten Koopman`s Famous Paintings. The former was a winner at both apna MumbaiInternational Film Festival of documentary, short and animation films in1998 and at the Berlin Film Festival in the same year. The film I was waiting for was Fatal Reaction: Bombay, atele-documentary by director Marijke Jongbloed. This film is a part of adocumentary series in which the problems facing single women across theworld are compared. It is bold and packed with facts hard-hitting enough tobruise your ego. It leaves you wondering what`s to happen to thecareer-oriented single woman, and her search for a life partner. The film takes us into the realm of the single woman`s world with MallikaSarabhai and her broken marriage. The fact that she thinks women aresuperior to men might suggest why her marriage of eight years fell apart.The key question, of course, is the inner conflict of a woman who hasachieved all her goals and gained importance because of her work that,sadly, affected her marriage. Similarly, Marijke takes us into the life of a rich, well-settled womanin her late twenties, chronicling her search for a rich husband. She triesto concentrate on the growing dilemma of well-educated, career-orientedsingle women and their restless battle with the opposite sex. The directortries to be fair, presenting both male and female points of view, bothmiddle class and upper middle class perspectives. Each of these men and women are trying hard to live in a society wherethe `first night` means so much for a better life ahead. Made in 1996, thefilm is a bit out of date, but what it does highlight is that society stillregards `Sita` as a role model when it comes to marriage. An interesting film, overall, especially since it is made by a foreigner,who has a strong insight into what Mumbai really is, no matter ourcosmopolitan delusions. Definitely the highlight of the festival.