The historic Milton Theatre will screen two independent films by Indian filmmaker Guarav Jani at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22. “Riding Solo to the Top of the World” and “One Crazy Ride” will be shown in a double feature, and the filmmaker will be present to discuss the films. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concessions will be available.
“Riding Solo to the Top of the World” is, quite literally, a one-man movie. Jani felt that no one had yet documented the landscape of the remote parts of India, bordering China, so he decided to ride to the Changthang Plateau in the north of India and do it all himself. He made the trip to one of the coldest and most remote locations in the world, a place that, reportedly, even National Geographic has never been allowed to go. He did all of the technical work on the film himself. He is the star, the cameraman, the sound man, the stunt man and the director.
“Making these movies was an adventure that satisfied my passion for film making and travel. I could spontaneously film the experience in real time. Every day was an exciting journey for me, mentally, physically and spiritually,” said Jani. “By traveling alone, I have the freedom to comprehend each situation and make my own decisions of what to shoot or how long I should stay somewhere. I never know what I will experience on any given day and, I don’t have to answer to anyone.”
As one reviewer put it, “Now you may think that this would result in an amateurish attempt at video ... but the result is camera work that ranks among the most breathtaking I’ve ever seen, and it’s not just because of the incredibly deep beauty of the scenery ... but also because Jani has a true knack for the art of film, capturing shot after shot with perfect exposure, focus and, most important of all, intuitively artistic scene composition.”
Jani’s second film, “One Crazy Ride,” released this year, documents his ride with four other riders across the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, in northeast India. It is a film about friendship, camaraderie and courage in the face of unforgiving terrain and unfriendly locals. Once again, Jani did his own technical work, capturing the experiences of the riders who are trying to chart a route which, according to many they consulted, does not exist. With this second journey, Jani has produced a film with extraordinary cinematography, including above-the-clouds shots, and documentation of an amazing ride across a suspended bridge.
Jani’s films have been praised as spiritual journeys. These two films have won a total of 11 awards at 21 film festivals, and this is a rare opportunity to see both films and meet the filmmaker. The historic Milton Theatre features newly installed state-of-the-art equipment and is located at 110 Union St., Milton.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted and the suggested donation is $5. All proceeds are being donated back by Jani to support the Milton Theatre’s plans to showcase independent filmmakers and “Best in Summer Shorts,” a program encouraging local talent to make films.
More information is available at 302-684-3400 or online at miltontheatre.org.
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