The endless trial of the two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen has had an unforeseen consequence on the popularity of one Indian film: Chaitanya Tamhane’s award-winning debut feature Court.
Court follows the seemingly innumerable courtroom appearances of a leftist activist balladeer accused of driving a sewage worker to suicide. In the narrative, the accusation is almost as absurd as the endless delays that mark the balladeer’s case. Tamhane’s movie made its debut at the prestigious Venice Film Festival in September, where the director won two awards, the Lion of the Future, given to best first features, and in the Orizzonti (Horizons) category.
Court has subsequently been shown at several other places in Italy, and audiences have been disturbed enough by its revelations of the Indian judicial process to walk to up Tamhane and ask him if the Italian marines would face a similar fate.
“Many Italians came up to me and told me about the case, and how they are lot less hopeful after watching the film,” Tamhane said. “I wouldn't say though that it's the only reason why they relate to the film. They said that in general, the Italian judicial system is quite similar to the one they see in the film.”
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that one of the two marines, who are accused of shooting the fishermen off the Kerala coast over two years ago, will have to return to India to face trial. Massimiliano Latorre had gone back to Italy in September after he suffered a stroke in custody in August. He had sought an extension until January for further medical treatment. Salvatore Girone is in the custody of the Italian embassy in New Delhi. No chargesheet has been filed in the case.
Court follows the seemingly innumerable courtroom appearances of a leftist activist balladeer accused of driving a sewage worker to suicide. In the narrative, the accusation is almost as absurd as the endless delays that mark the balladeer’s case. Tamhane’s movie made its debut at the prestigious Venice Film Festival in September, where the director won two awards, the Lion of the Future, given to best first features, and in the Orizzonti (Horizons) category.
Court has subsequently been shown at several other places in Italy, and audiences have been disturbed enough by its revelations of the Indian judicial process to walk to up Tamhane and ask him if the Italian marines would face a similar fate.
“Many Italians came up to me and told me about the case, and how they are lot less hopeful after watching the film,” Tamhane said. “I wouldn't say though that it's the only reason why they relate to the film. They said that in general, the Italian judicial system is quite similar to the one they see in the film.”
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that one of the two marines, who are accused of shooting the fishermen off the Kerala coast over two years ago, will have to return to India to face trial. Massimiliano Latorre had gone back to Italy in September after he suffered a stroke in custody in August. He had sought an extension until January for further medical treatment. Salvatore Girone is in the custody of the Italian embassy in New Delhi. No chargesheet has been filed in the case.
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