On a lunar eclipse midnight, in a desolate temple, six young newlyweds and a priestess meet after a mass wedding. They sit in a circle and talk.
Experimental filmmaker Ashish Avikunthak’s new film Rati Chakravyuh is ready for release. The film is a single-take, 105-minute piece structured around a conversation among these 13 individuals. Made entirely in Bengali, Rati Chakravuyh builds an intense narrative through conversation.
“The inspiration for this film came from Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’,” said Ashish, “the idea of a final communion among loved ones before an imminent finale.”
The single-shot film is book-ended with two title cards — the first at the beginning mentions the mass wedding, the second ends the film announcing the mass suicide. The middle shot of 98 minutes is a conversation among the 13 individuals, who sit in a circle in a brightly lit ancient temple and discuss their lives, loves, cricket, suicide, religion, riots and more. The film explores being Indian, being human, and being alive.
The camera is on a circular dolly and goes in circles throughout the shot. The continuous single shot is employed to heighten the temporal nature of the film. The trailer can be viewed by clicking this link: http://vimeo.com/97888465
Ashish’s films have been shown worldwide in film festivals, galleries and museums. Notable screenings were at the Tate Modern, London; Centre George Pompidou, Paris; Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley; and at the London, Locarno, Rotterdam, and Berlin film festivals, among others.
