Madras Eyes (1998)

Genres - Drama  |   Run Time - 80 min.  |   Countries - Italy  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Gönül Dönmez-Colin

In this film within a film, Arun, an Indian director, is searching for an idea for his next film in the chaotic city of Madras. Suddenly he finds himself in front of a statue of the androgynous god Ardanari, who is half-man, half-woman. The ambiguity of this mysterious figure makes his imagination run wild. He begins a quest, which leads to Sharda, a young eunuch who agrees to tell the story of his life. Sharda's story blossoms against the background of the fantasies of Arun as in a popular Indian film. The relationship between the two is very intense and complicated. One day Sharda disappears -- in film and in reality. Madras Eyes was shot in Southern India in a real eunuch community where men dress and behave like women. Italian Ilaria Freccia started to make a documentary, but during the shooting, her perspective began to change, resulting in a drama partly based on real-life events. The director knows her material well as she has made several documentaries in India before. Madras Eyes was shown in the 1999 International Film festival in Rotterdam.

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Keywords

androgyny, director, eunuch, film, Native-American, quest, statue