House of Paintings (Chitrashala), 2015, 20 minutes
Synopsis:
When a gallery of paintings becomes emptied of its spectators, the curtains raise within the paintings.
The Amar Mahal Palace Museum in Jammu, India, is the stage for this film. Forty seven paintings made in the Pahari school of master-painter Nainsukh’s immediate descendants adorn the palace walls. Based on a 12th century Sanskrit epic poem depicting the love of Nala and Damayanti, this set of paintings were made five centuries later. But their mysteries are still many. The animation in the film is used to articulate the painter’s intention.
On the Film:
“It’s a quietly breathtaking approach to capturing the spirit of the fine arts.”
– Daniel Walber, ‘The 5 Must-See Films of Documentary Fortnight 2017’, Nonfics.
“Amit Dutta approaches this story with visual composure and concentration. He lifts the curtains with the greatest respect, to give life to love. He searches for the cinematic equivalent of this tale and expands the cinema, with the miniature.”
– 65th Berlin International Film Festival, 2015
“Several exquisite works come into focus, before springing to life before our eyes.”
– Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York