Entertainment

Polish movie exhibits plight of migrants at Venice Film Festival

Published

8 months ago

September 6, 2023

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Polish movie exhibits plight of migrants at Venice Film Festival

After the media was denied access to migrants desperately trying to cross the Polish-Belarus border, director Agnieszka Holland decided to step in and make a wrenching movie about their plight.

“Green Border”, which premieres at the Venice Film Festival, tells the story of refugees, charity workers, activists and border guards, whose lives intersect in the cold, swampy forests between the two east European countries.

Migrants started flocking to the border in 2021, after Belarus, a close Russian ally, opened travel agencies in the Middle East offering a new unofficial route into Europe – a move the European Union said was designed to create a crisis.

Poland refused to let them cross, leaving hundreds stranded in a freezing no-man’s land, and temporarily imposed an exclusion zone, forbidding reporters and human rights groups from approaching the area to see what was going on.

“It was impossible for the documentary makers and the journalists to go there, but we can re-create and do something that I know how to do, make a fictional film about events which are going on right now,” Holland said.

We had to try to capture it in all (its) possible complexity and give justice and a voice to those who have been silenced and are voiceless,” she added.

Her black-and-white film shows a family from Syria and a woman from Afghanistan thrown back and forward across the border by brutal guards indifferent to their suffering, as activists struggle to try to bring them to safety.

Holland, who during a decades-long career has made films about the Nazi Holocaust and Communist tyranny, said the pushback called into doubt the European Union’s core values.

“If we go further on this road … the European Union, Europe, the continent of freedom, democracy (and) human rights will disappear. It will change into some kind of a fortress,” she said.

“Green Border” is highly critical of Poland’s rejection of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, contrasting it to the way the country welcomed in more than a million refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.

But the lead actress, Maja Ostaszewska, who herself went to the forests in 2021 to help the migrants, said the film was not making a political statement.

“It asks the eternal question. What would you do if someone came knocking on your door … You can open your door, you can help, or you can decide to pretend not to see,” she said.

“Green Border” is one of 23 movies competing for the Golden Lion award at the Venice festival, which runs until Sept. 9.

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Netizens start blocking Alia Bhatt for keeping mum on Gaza crisis

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Netizens start blocking Alia Bhatt for keeping mum on Gaza crisis

The India actor is accused of not speaking out against genocide in Gaza.

Alia has seemingly landed on the ‘Blockout 2024’ list for not addressing the mounting criticism on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Alia Bhatt is in the headlines after her Met Gala 2024 appearance as she has been receiving hatred for keeping mum on the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt has been making the headlines for her stunning appearance at the Met Gala 2024.

The actress’ popularity has skyrocketed after her show-stopping appearance on the red carpet, with everyone talking about her surreal look.

However, now, Alia has seemingly landed on the ‘Blockout 2024’ list for not addressing the mounting criticism on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Like many other Hollywood celebrities, Alia Bhatt has allegedly been accused of keeping mum about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
And now, her name has popped up in the ‘Blockout 2024’ movement, which has been going viral on TikTok.

For the unversed, netizens have started this phenomenon on social media, wherein they are ‘blocking’ celebrities who have been indifferent to the plight of the people of Palestine and Israel amidst the ongoing conflict.

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Entertainment

Why Inaya Khan does not bother reading comments of men followers on Instagram

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Why Inaya Khan does not bother reading comments of men followers on Instagram

Appearing on a podcast, showbiz star Inaya Khan has said she does not bother reading comments from male followers on her Instagram posts, because most of their messages pertain to marriage.

Inaya Khan revealed that despite having a significant number of male followers on Instagram, she only pays attention to comments from her female followers, with her cousins informing her about them.

Khan shared that she often receives messages from male followers claiming her as their wife, to which she humorously responded that she is currently single and content.

While marriage is not her current focus, Khan expressed her admiration for the saree, a clothing item her mother taught her to wear and manage.

In a previous appearance on the same show, Khan admitted to having crushes on A-list actors Mikaal Zulfiqar and Feroze Khan, particularly praising Zulfiqar’s personality and character traits.

Khan, known for her roles in dramas such as ‘Khoat’ and ‘Mere Apne’, detailed the qualities she desires in a life partner, emphasizing loyalty and a caring nature.

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Entertainment

Is Ayeza Khan retiring from showbiz?

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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As the last episode of drama series ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ is just around the corner, fans want to know about the future of Ayeza Khan who in a message on Instagram had said ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ was her last project.

Ayeza Khan, celebrated for her stunning performances, has been a part of several hit dramas.

With a career spanning over a decade, Ayeza has charmed audiences with her acting prowess.

Currently, Ayeza is making headlines for her role in the popular drama series ‘Jaan-e-Jahan,’ where she stars alongside Hamza Ali Abbasi.

The show has garnered immense popularity, captivating viewers in both Pakistan and India. As many as 38 episodes have aired so far and the last episode is just around the corner.

However, amidst the drama’s success, fans are left wondering about Ayeza’s future projects.

Her Instagram story that she posted in November 2023, hinting at a possible departure from the industry, resurfaces.

In the said post, Ayeza referred to ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ as her ‘last project,’ sparking rumours about her retirement from acting.

Ayeza Khan’s journey in the entertainment world began with her debut in ‘Tum Jo Miley’ in 2009.

However, it was her portrayal of ‘Farah Ibrahim’ in the 2013 drama ‘Pyarey Afzal, opposite acclaimed actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, that propelled her to fame.

As speculations regarding Ayeza’s future in the industry go viral, fans eagerly await confirmation about her next move. Whether ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ marks the end of Ayeza Khan’s acting career or simply a pause in her journey remains to be seen. Only time will tell.

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