Marie Ange: The globe trotting filmmaker
Kavita Charanji
Haitian filmmaker Marie Ange Sylvain-Holmgren's home in Gulshan is a virtual treasure trove of artifacts. As soon as one enters, one is greeted by her photograph of Buddhist monks in Laos. There's more--ornaments such as bead necklaces of the Masai women from Kenya, a Pali book from Myanmar, betel boxes from Myanmar and old Ethiopian jewellery fashioned from bronze. Adorning the walls are paintings of Ranjit Das and Srabon. In one corner is a piano which she has been playing for 30 years. All this and more is testimony to Marie Ange's globetrotting existence which has taken her through countries such as USA, UK, France, Mexico, Ecuador, Zaire, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Since 2002 she has been in Bangladesh, working as a film director with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and basically produces documentaries on social issues, especially those related to UNDP's projects. Among her latest works is a film on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), titled Amar Desh. This work narrates the story of the tribal communities and their non-tribal neighbours in the CHT. As Marie Ange says, "The most important objective of the UNDP project is to build the self-confidence of the ethnic communities and develop these areas." Marie Ange is also doing an independent documentary on Indian classical vocalist Kalpana Bhattacharya. The latter is based in Kolkata and is currently in Dhaka. Marie Ange is effusive in her praise for Kalpana. As she says, " She sings raga in the dhrupad style. Raga is not merely an auditory experience but also an emotional one for her." In all likelihood, Marie Ange will call the film Kalpana. The shooting is over and she is now beginning the editing process, which will take a month. The film is in Bangla with English subtitles. Marie Ange is also learning to play the sitar. Her guru is Ustad Alim Khan. She took to this musical instrument in November last year. In her words, "I opted for the sitar because it is through this music that I developed an interest in Indian classical music. This music speaks to me and I become so overwhelmed with emotion that I cry sometimes." What about the language barrier? The articulate Marie Ange is unfazed: "There is nothing to understand. The words are not important, it is the rhythm and tunes that count. There are notes and musical forms which I have never heard before and which touch my heart," she says. For Marie Ange, Bangladesh is an eye-opener. "I have never been in a country where everything is a subject. You go out in the streets and there are subjects, everywhere you turn. Even the garbage lady is a subject for films and photography. I would call Bangladesh a university of life; I have never seen a country where you have so many issues all together, like environment, the refugee situation, poverty, ethnic conflict, education and gender issues. I know many foreigners complain about everyday life in Bangladesh but I find it amazingly interesting and I learn so much." What's in store for the intrepid Marie Ange? Continuing to find subjects and devote time to the sitar. In the meantime Bangladesh and Marie Ange have a symbiotic relationship. |