Crossing the Line
Inaugural Screening and Official launch of Crossing The Line held on Sunday 5 August, 5-7pm at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta.
This FREE event is on for one night only and bookings are essential. TO BOOK contact Mouna Zaylah or phone 9897 5744 extension 2.
Kamahl to launch Local Film
Admired singer and media personality Kamahl will launch an amazing story of Sydney’s local Indian and Pakistani communities on Sunday 5th August. Written and directed by local filmmaker Anita Barar, Crossing The Line is the first documentary film produced about two communities – Indians and Pakistanis with different ideologies living in harmony in Sydney, Australia and sharing their memories of the division of India in 1947.
The 75-minute documentary film is the first of its kind in Australia marking the 60th anniversary of the Partition of India which tells the stories of two communities who migrated to Australia post-partition. These communities were deeply affected by the division of what became India and Pakistan.
In 1947, when India attained freedom from the British Empire, a line was drawn on the map of India on the basis of religious majority and creation of a new country – Pakistan came into existence. Millions crossed the borders and massive violence and slaughter occurred on both sides. The history of humanity has perhaps not witnessed a darker tragedy. Without waging a war, millions died and tens of millions were uprooted from their homes.
Kamahl has been entertaining audiences with his unique brand of easy listening entertainment for more than 50 years.
Kamahl said “It has been said that there are good people and bad. There is little you can do about the bad, but the tragedy is that so many good people do bad things in the name of religion. Crossing The Line is the beginning of the recovery of some of the shattered lives, after one of the worst bloodbaths in history.”
Crossing The Line was produced as a result of the passion of Anita Barar, who wanted the stories of her community told and their experiences shared on the screen. Anita successfully brought together members of the Indian Australian & Pakistani Australian community and conducted a series of storytelling workshops which were digitally documented providing insights into the long-term aftermath of experiences of migration and displacement – the disorienting experience of living in a new country while profound and enormous changes take place in one’s country of origin.
“I was born in Independent India. For me, everything that happened at the time of partition was safely tucked away either in history books or in the shared memory of my parents. Their various recollections would tell me the stories of loss, enmity, violence, friendship, hope and love.” Anita Barar
Anita Barar commenced working on Crossing The Line in 2005 through participating in Originate: Multicultural+Multimedia+Mentorship program at Information and Cultural Exchange. Originate provided Anita with the knowledge and tools to work with communities using digital media and access to state-of-the-art multimedia facilities to see her project come to life. Originate is funded by the federal government through the Australia Council, and supported and accredited by TAFE NSW.
For further information, contact Mouna Zaylah or phone 9897 5744 extension 2.
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