2011 NEW YORK SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 9e FESTIVAL DU CINEMA DE PARIS
Director: Visakh Leela Gopinath Producer: Reza John Vedadi Writer: Visakh Leela Gopinath Genre: Short Film Country: UK Duration: 10.03 Original Format: HDV1080 50i Leading Actress: Penelope Driver Leading Actor: Visakh Leela Gopinath Photography: Reza John Vedadi Art Direction: Mandy Moullim Editing: Visakh Leela Gopinath
Synopsis of the Film: The walls of his room are full of pictures with different beard styles. John (the main character) is drawing different types of beard which might suit his face. He tried different designs but yet, he couldn't find the right one for him. After many attempts, he discovers one shape of beard that he feels that might represent him and shaves his beard after it. Soon after, he finds himself in a busy street. Suddenly he feels something strange is going on. The boy touches his beard and thinks something is wrong with his new appearance. He keeps looking back several times while he walks through the street with the feeling that unknown eyes are following him. He walks faster but the continuous presence of the eyes makes him run, in a desperate try to escape from that uncomfortable feeling. But the eyes never stop following him. Explaining the story in an unusual style 'The beard' paves light into the stereo type thinking of society. The beard stand here as an image which represents the Identity of an individual. Relating reality and fiction, the movie gives a picture of how society makes its own metaphors and sense. When the film begins a police officer is after a boy who has a strange beard. She explains that the reason she is following him is because of his uncommon beard; the police man gives voice of the common thought of society. The rest of the story is explained as a flash back. Even though the story has realistic images, it stands on a set of an imaginary boy obsessed about beard and his room full of images with famous characters with beard and paper cuttings about it. The Police officer may be real but the boy and his madness are a result from the thoughts that society has about the subject and it represents a broad image. The movie tries to develop a variety of thoughts from a simple image.
Bio-filmography of the Director: The beard is Visakh Leela Gopinath's debut short film, which is made in United Kingdom as part of his Major project for his studies In MA Film Production. Before coming to London he was working as an associate director for television programs in India. He produced documentaries, television programs and promos while working in India.
Annual Program Without Frontiers - The Beard
