Avoid silly fare

Avoid silly fare likes Weekend At Bernie’s and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Embrace, instead, the Merchant Ivory retrospective at Sterling Cinema which begins today. Seven gems from the repertoire, which also features A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (Saturday), The Proprietor (Sunday), and Jefferson In Paris (Wednesday), will be screened each day at 2.00 pm, 5.00 pm and 8.00 pm. The festival will end with the company’s latest offering, Cotton Mary which is scheduled to run longer. Don’t miss your chance to check out these classics:

Howard’s end
Adapted from a novel first published in 1910, the film, directed by James Ivory features a celebrated cast which includes talent like Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thomson and Vanessa Redgrave. The film, a tale about two sisters, is a delightful watch.

Shakespearwallah:
The story about a troupe of Shakespearean actors touring India, this one features Shashi Kapoor, Geoffrey Kendal and his daughters Felicity and Jennifer in leading roles, and once again, has been directed by Ivory. A treat just for the slim, young and handsome Shashi Kapoor.

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The Householder:
This film was shot in Delhi and is about a normal everyday middle class man and his problems. Starring Shashi Kapoor, Leela Naidu and Durga Khote.

Cotton Mary:
Set in post-colonial India of the fifties, this one’s the story of two Anglo-Indian sisters, their Anglo-Indian friend and their tangled and complicated interactions with a British family. Starring Madhur Jaffrey, Greta Scacchi and Neena Gupta, this one has been directed by Ismail Merchant, and will have a regular run.