Germany

Director: Sarah Yona ZWEIG

50 min. 2014,
with dialogue, English, English subtitled

Distributor: Louise Peter

Producer: Sarah Yona Zweig

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Screenplay: Rotem Elroy, Sarah Yona Zweig

Cinematographer: Itamar Mendes-Flohr

Editor: Sandro Cannova

Cast:
Nepathya Sreehari
Madhu Margi
Dr. Indu G.
Nepathya Yadukrishnan
Nepathya Vishnuprasad
Nepathya Rahul
Kalamandalam Ratheesh Bhas
Kalamandalam Manikandan
Kalanilayam Rajan
Nepathya Saneesh
Kalamandalam Satheesan

 

What is it like to grow up into a world, which is on the verge of disappearing? Descending from a long line of actors in an ancient Indian theatre tradition, the ten-year-old Sreehari, searches for a stage on which to perform his art, in a world which leaves tradition behind in its quest for modernization.

The Backstage of Tradition accompanies Sreehari, a young actor in the “Kūṭiyāṭṭam” tradition, the last living remnant of ancient Indian drama. In the temple, Sreehari encounters “Kūṭiyāṭṭam” as a visual sacrifice to the gods, as a ritual which only those of the actors' caste are allowed to perform there. At home, we see him with his parents, both distinguished “Kūṭiyāṭṭam” performers. Backstage, in the secular theater constructed by his parents outside the temple walls, Sreehari witnesses the paradox of tradition- in order to keep a tradition alive, one has to change it.

The Backstage of Tradition is a story about the transformations on and of the stage transferred into a secular world. It is a story about the ultimate stage- the human face and its transformations.

Major screenings, presentations:

• 21.09.2014 * GOLDEN ORCHID INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL (Feature film program, USA)
• 06.12.2014 * MUMBAI WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Official Selection, India)
• 06.12.2014 * 16th MADURAI INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AND SHORT FILM (Official Selection, India)

Sarah Yona Zweig, grew up as a circus artist, immigrated to Israel and studied Talmud and Comparative Religion.
The encounter with ancient Indian tempel theatre and the documentary filmer Nurith Aviv led her to search her language in cinema. Currently studies cinematography at the dffb (German Film and Television Academy Berlin)

• 2014 THE BACKSTAGE OF TRADITION (Director, Script, 2nd Camera)
• 2013 NURITH AVIV-ANNONCES (Research, Script, Kamera Assistence)

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