Matir Moina
Encyclopedia
Matir Moina (also spelled Matir Moyna and known in English as The Clay Bird) is a Bangla film
directed by Tareque Masud
, a Bangladeshi film
director. The film was released in 2002. It won the International Critics' Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival
, and became Bangladesh's first film to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
.
Matir Moina deals with Masud's own experiences studying at a madrasah
against the increasing tensions in East Pakistan
culminating in the Bangladesh War of Liberation. Throughout the film there are references to historical occurrences in agitated times, and the film portrays these episodes through the human experiences of the young protagonist, his family, and his teachers and peers at the madrasah. Matir Moina won a number of awards internationally but was initially banned in Bangladesh
on the grounds that it dealt with issues sensitive to the religious. The ban was repealed and the DVD version was released on April 16th, 2005.
.
in the late 1960s leading up to the Bangladesh War of Liberation. In this setting, a small family must come to grips with its culture, its faith, and the brutal political changes entering its small-town world. Anu, a young boy, is sent off to a madrasah
by his unbendingly devout father Kazi. Anu's younger sister falls ill and dies because of Kazi's refusal to use conventional medicine
. While at the madrasah, Anu befriends Rokon, an eccentric misfit in the rigorous religious school, who is forced by the teachers to undergo an exorcism by ducking in the freezing river to cure himself.
Personal tragedies beset the family and tests its loyalty to the obdurate patriarch Kazi, who still believes in the religious unity of Pakistan, in the face of cruel, contradictory events.
A shattering political development then changes their town, their life, and the inner dynamics of the family, including the patriarch's role.
Nominations
Matir Moina was the first Bangladeshi film to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
.
and was the opening film of the Directors' Fortnight
section. At about the same time, the Bangladesh Film Censor Board felt the film was too sensitive to be screened in Bangladesh due to some religious overtones. The Masuds took their case to the Appeal Board and were able to get the decision of the government reversed. Thus, the film was finally shown in the country of its creation in late 2002.
. It includes a two-hour documentary that includes shootings, interviews, and opinion from the audience. It is thought to be the first interactive DVD in Bangladesh.
Cinema of Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi film industry has been based in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, since 1956. As of 2004, it produced approximately 100 movies a year, with an average movie budget of about 20,000,000 Bangladeshi taka...
directed by Tareque Masud
Tareque Masud
Tareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
, a Bangladeshi film
Cinema of Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi film industry has been based in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, since 1956. As of 2004, it produced approximately 100 movies a year, with an average movie budget of about 20,000,000 Bangladeshi taka...
director. The film was released in 2002. It won the International Critics' Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival
2002 Cannes Film Festival
The 2002 Cannes Film Festival started on 15 May and ran until 26 May. The Palme d'Or went to the Polish-French-German-British co-produced film The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski.-Jury:* David Lynch * Sharon Stone* Michelle Yeoh...
, and became Bangladesh's first film to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
Matir Moina deals with Masud's own experiences studying at a madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
against the increasing tensions in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
culminating in the Bangladesh War of Liberation. Throughout the film there are references to historical occurrences in agitated times, and the film portrays these episodes through the human experiences of the young protagonist, his family, and his teachers and peers at the madrasah. Matir Moina won a number of awards internationally but was initially banned in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
on the grounds that it dealt with issues sensitive to the religious. The ban was repealed and the DVD version was released on April 16th, 2005.
Credits
According to the Masuds, the film was shot almost entirely with non-professionals in local settings often using local sounds. The cinematography attempted to capture the seasons in rustic appeal and the festivals and holidays of BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
Cast
- Nurul Islam Bablu as Anu
- Russell Farazi as Rokon, his friend
- Jayanto Chattopadhyay as Kazi Shaheb, Anu's father
- Rokeya Prachy as Ayesha Bibi, Anu's mother
- Soaeb Islam as Milon, Anu's uncle
- Lameesa R. Reemjheem as Asma, Anu's sister
- Moin Ahmed as Ibrahim Shaheb, one of Anu's teachers
- Mohammed Moslemuddin as the headmaster
- Abdul Karim as Halim Mia
- Manjila Begum as a female singer
- Momtaz as a female folk singer
Crew
- Tareque MasudTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
, director, co-producer, and co-writer - Catherine MasudCatherine MasudCatherine Masud , born Catherine Lucretia Shapere, is wife of the Bangladeshi cinema maker Tareque Masud.-Early life:She was born in Chicago in 1963. Catherine graduated from Brown University, in economics. In late 1980s, she met with Tareque Masud and they married in 1988...
, co-producer, editor and co-writer - Sudheer Palsane, cinematography
- Indrajit Neogi, sound recording
- Moushumi Bhowmik, music direction
- Momtaz, female playback singerPlayback singerA playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
for "Pakita bondi achhe deher khachai" (roughly translating as "the bird is trapped in the caged body")
Synopsis
The film is set against the backdrop of unrest in East PakistanEast Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
in the late 1960s leading up to the Bangladesh War of Liberation. In this setting, a small family must come to grips with its culture, its faith, and the brutal political changes entering its small-town world. Anu, a young boy, is sent off to a madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
by his unbendingly devout father Kazi. Anu's younger sister falls ill and dies because of Kazi's refusal to use conventional medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. While at the madrasah, Anu befriends Rokon, an eccentric misfit in the rigorous religious school, who is forced by the teachers to undergo an exorcism by ducking in the freezing river to cure himself.
Personal tragedies beset the family and tests its loyalty to the obdurate patriarch Kazi, who still believes in the religious unity of Pakistan, in the face of cruel, contradictory events.
A shattering political development then changes their town, their life, and the inner dynamics of the family, including the patriarch's role.
Awards
Wins- 2002 Cannes Film Festival2002 Cannes Film FestivalThe 2002 Cannes Film Festival started on 15 May and ran until 26 May. The Palme d'Or went to the Polish-French-German-British co-produced film The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski.-Jury:* David Lynch * Sharon Stone* Michelle Yeoh...
, International Critics' Prize - 2002 Cannes Film Festival2002 Cannes Film FestivalThe 2002 Cannes Film Festival started on 15 May and ran until 26 May. The Palme d'Or went to the Polish-French-German-British co-produced film The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski.-Jury:* David Lynch * Sharon Stone* Michelle Yeoh...
, FIPRESCIFIPRESCIThe International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
Prize for Directors' FortnightDirectors' FortnightDirectors' Fortnight is an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. The section was created in 1969 after the events of May 1968, in which the Cannes festival was canceled in solidarity with striking workers....
- Tareque MasudTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes... - 2002 Edinburgh International Film FestivalEdinburgh International Film FestivalThe Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
- 2002 Montreal International Film Festival
- 2002 International Film Festival of MarrakechInternational Film Festival of MarrakechThe International Film Festival of Marrakech is an international film festival held annually in Marrakech, Morocco.-Overview:Since its inaugural year in 2000, the FIFM has been one of the biggest events devoted to Moroccan cinema...
, Best Screenplay Award - Tareque MasudTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
& Catherine MasudCatherine MasudCatherine Masud , born Catherine Lucretia Shapere, is wife of the Bangladeshi cinema maker Tareque Masud.-Early life:She was born in Chicago in 1963. Catherine graduated from Brown University, in economics. In late 1980s, she met with Tareque Masud and they married in 1988... - 2002 Cairo International Film FestivalCairo International Film FestivalThe Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
- 2003 Palm Springs International Film FestivalPalm Springs International Film FestivalPalm Springs International Film Festival is a film festival held in Palm Springs, California. It was started in 1989 and is held annually in January...
- 2003 New Directors/New Films Festival
- 2003 Karafilm Festival, Best Film
Nominations
- 2002 International Film Festival of MarrakechInternational Film Festival of MarrakechThe International Film Festival of Marrakech is an international film festival held annually in Marrakech, Morocco.-Overview:Since its inaugural year in 2000, the FIFM has been one of the biggest events devoted to Moroccan cinema...
, Golden Star - Tareque MasudTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes... - 2004 Nominated, Directors Guild of Great Britain, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Foreign Language Film - Tareque MasudTareque MasudTareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
Matir Moina was the first Bangladeshi film to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
Controversy and censorship
Matir Moina became the first full-length feature film from Bangladesh to be selected for the Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
and was the opening film of the Directors' Fortnight
Directors' Fortnight
Directors' Fortnight is an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. The section was created in 1969 after the events of May 1968, in which the Cannes festival was canceled in solidarity with striking workers....
section. At about the same time, the Bangladesh Film Censor Board felt the film was too sensitive to be screened in Bangladesh due to some religious overtones. The Masuds took their case to the Appeal Board and were able to get the decision of the government reversed. Thus, the film was finally shown in the country of its creation in late 2002.
DVD
The DVD of Matir Moina was released on 16 April 2005 by Laser VisionLaser Vision
Laser Vision is a Bangladeshi record label.-Laser Vision :Laser Vision Dhaka-Bangladesh is involved in core business of distribution of copyrights licensed quality television programs, recording artists and full-length Bengali feature films released on DVD, VCD, CDs, Audio/Video Magnetic tapes and...
. It includes a two-hour documentary that includes shootings, interviews, and opinion from the audience. It is thought to be the first interactive DVD in Bangladesh.