Josef, Born in Grace
Susant Misra
India. 2019. 100 min
“Joseph: Born in Grace” is an adaptation of a short story “Joseph” written by Umakanta Mahapatra and is set in the foothills of the Himalayas between 1960 and 1980 in India. Father O’ Hara (Victor Banaerjee), a missionary doctor with the help of his caretaker Maularam (Sudarshan Juyal), raises an orphan baby Joseph (Hitesh Bisht). While still a young boy, Joseph is sent to Dehradun for his studies and vocational training. Joseph (Subrat Dutta) returns back with a reputation as a great cook as well as his love for alcohol. Film explores in its unfolding of time, the different paths that Father O’ Hara, Joseph and Maularam take in their respective journeys for spiritual fulfillment through memories. Through static mis-en-scenes, the narrative of the film reflects the all-encompassing nature of time, pre-empting and repeating itself in allegorical hues.
SUSANT MISRA
While he was studying at FTII his diploma film Nischal Badal was screened at the competitive section of Oberhausen Film Festival in Germany. After completing his diploma, in 1993 he directed his first feature film Indradhanur Chaai that won him the Grand Prix at the Sochi International Film Festival in Russia and was official selection in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1995. Biswaprakash was his second film that was also screened at several international festivals and won Silver Lotus for Best Oriya Film in the National Film Awards in 2000. Dharini is his third feature film that was made both in Hindi and Oria. He also made three documentaries, Dhenkanal – A Multifaceted Paradise, Samarpanam on the eminent Bharat Natyam dancer Malavika Sarukkai and Pearls of Wisdom on Oriya Literature for the Children’s Film Society, India.
CONTACT
Ashok Mahapatra : ashok@uakathachitra.com
imagineindiafestival.com 