SIDE EFFECTS: PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG ARTIST IN LAHORE
Pakistan, 2009, 34 min
Mashood Ahmed Sheikh
29.01.2010 18:10
Side effects: Portrait of a young artist in Lahore
Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan with a population of more than 10 million. The city is famous for exquisite food, its rich culture, an education capital and the core of Pakistan's media and Arts scene. The film takes us deep into the life of a struggling young lower-middle class, Art student in Lahore.
Language of dialogues: Urdu, Panjabi, English
Language of subtitles: English
„Ritual reversals“ or „ritual of rebellion“ are concepts used for mock rituals performend in Southern and Eastern Africa. During fertility rituals, like rain making ceremonies, women in their songs and dances demonstrate obscene behaviour while they behave like men. These are secret performance open strictly for eldery men and women. Still, we were invited to record the rain making ceremony in the land of Chief Chassuka, Manika Province in Mozambique in order to document the ritual for the younger generations. These rituals are a fading tradition probably due to the special character of the songs and dances.
In Berlin, young self-employed workers live the alternative to a nine-to-five job – low rents and space for creative ideas are still available. A sewing café owner, a freelance journalist and two contemporary dancers give insights in theirs live styles and tell about their independent work. The protagonists are not only part of berlin´s creative class buut they also represent a part of well-educatted generation, who struggles between job insecurity and th wish of self-realization.