Looking back at River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival 2014 … and some Florence tips

This year, I was only able to enjoy River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival for five days. But it was my tenth time in a row – and I got to see a particularly fascinating special guest (Irrfan Khan – you can watch more videos of his Q&A sessions here).


Here are spontaneous messages which I (and others) posted during the festival – including movie recommendations and accompanying trailers:

"I'm so astonished by the beauty of Florence, that I don't feel like talking, just enjoy the silence", @irrfan_k pic.twitter.com/MYLUkyk4ij

— River to River FIFF (@river2riverfiff) December 6, 2014

Finding Fanny (IND 2014l): Funny & moving Goa road movie with great cast (especially Naseeruddin Shah & Deepika Padukone). **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 6, 2014

@irrfan_k @river2riverfiff Arno and Ganges. These rivers only meet through cinema. Well said. pic.twitter.com/9B3Yqlan1y

— Kartik Singh (@KartikSingh) December 7, 2014

Hank and Asha (USA 2013): Cute debut about video exchange between Indian student (brilliant: Mahira Kakkar) and lonely NYer. °°°°° #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 7, 2014

Qissa (IND/D/NL/F): Gripping mix of displacement drama (IND/PAK 1947) and gender parable. Strong performance by @Irrfan_K . **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 7, 2014

Goonga Pehelwan (IND 2013): Nicely shot portrait of a deaf wrestler & critique of disabled athletes' unfair treatment in India **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 8, 2014

Paan Singh Tomar (IND 2010): Dramatic biopic about a running champion turning outlaw, with strong performance by @Irrfan_K. **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 8, 2014

I saw this movie at July’s Indian Film Festival Stuttgart (report about the 2012 edition) already and thought about leaving the cinema when I realized this. But I couldn’t. The movie was just as exciting the second time around.

Mrs. Scooter (IND 2014): Nicely acted debut about intertwined fate of a newlywed woman and a scooter. http://t.co/9QJSEo9Vh5 ***½ #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 8, 2014

It's time to say goodbye @irrfan_k! Thanks for being at the festival with us! #R2RFIFF #getrivered #50giorni2014 pic.twitter.com/ZnvP1OA1Dt

— River to River FIFF (@river2riverfiff) December 8, 2014

Diary Of an Overly Reactive Middle Aged Teenager (IND 2013): Video diary feat. Sakshi Oberoi Bahadur. Fascinating experiment! **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 10, 2014

Sold (USA/IND/NEP 2014): Powerful drama about a true child-trafficking story, with a strong performance by Niyar Saikia (12). **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 10, 2014

Some additional tips / posts / tweets from Florence

This is referring to Fratelli Zanobini – nicely characterized in this quote:

Signore Zanobini (third generation): "I like my business because everybody who comes here is happy." http://t.co/wwGkfAJNM6

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) November 27, 2013

Hier hole ich immer meinen Jahresvorrat an sardischem Mirto (eine Flasche). (@ Vinatierre Fratelli Zanobini) https://t.co/2WZRm8dqP9

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 10, 2014

English version from last year:

The basement restaurant underneath the wine bar. Decently priced Tuscan home cooking. (@ Fiaschetteria Nuvoli) [pic]: http://t.co/XWKLQrdLpS

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) November 26, 2013

Goonga Pehelwan (IND 2013): Nicely shot portrait of a deaf wrestler & critique of disabled athletes' unfair treatment in India **** #R2RFIFF

— Peter Jebsen (@pjebsen) December 8, 2014

Previous posts about River to River

• Preview: 13th River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival: From Ganges to Arno … and Tiber! #R2RFIFF
• Shukriya, Amitabh Bachchan! (Celebrating 100 Years of Indian Cinema at River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival)
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. on his soundtrack choices … and why he is sick of Bengali music
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. on being self-taught
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. on guerrilla marketing and having a torrent hit
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. on the meaning of the title term
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. on the first (and last) screening in India (at a beachside film festival)
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. answers an audience question about his courage
• YouTube: „Gandu“ director Q. on the audience reaction he expected at „River to River“
• From Ganges to Arno: 11th River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival
• Aparna Sen and Rahul Bose at River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival
• Qype: River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival in Florenz (in German)
• Flickr post about my first visit in 2005

Peter Jebsen