Portuguese film 'The Consul of Bordeaux' to open IFFI 2012

Panaji, Nov 12 (IANS) Portuguese director Manuel Gonzales' 'The Consul of Bordeaux' will open the 42nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here Nov 23.

Speaking to reporters here, IFFI director Shankar Mohan said that the theme of the festival was 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The Whole World is One Family) and that Gonsalez's film, which is about a diplomat's efforts to salvage lives in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, fitted the bill perfectly.

'Our screening committee and the film programme committee thought that 'The Consul of Bordeaux' put across the theme of the festival in a most convincing manner,' Mohan said.

The 2011 award winning film is based on the life of Portuguese consul general Aristides de Sousa Mendes in Bordeaux (France), who helped thousands of Jewish refugees to escape the country after Hitler's forces invaded Belgium and the Netherlands in May 1940.

'It is a story of person who saved thousands of lives in duress. It will set the ball rolling for the festival which has a theme of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam',' Mohan said.

'We chose this film from the 500 odd international films which were viewed by the IFFI's preview committee,' he said.

The IFFI will conclude Dec 3.