Film: Reel Asian International Film Festival

Reel Asian International Film Festival
Nov. 5 -16, 2013

Reel Asian  is a professional and well-organized film festival featuring a wide range of Asian film including those from Hong Kong, Japan, India, Pakistan, Korea, Taiwan, Iran, Nepal and Canada and the USA. There were two programmes offered, one in Toronto and one in Richmond Hill.

Film Review:
Farah Goes Bang
Directed by Meera Menon
Starring Nikhol Boosheri, Kandis Erickson, Kiran Deol

Farah Goes Bang is an engaging and intelligent film written, directed and produced by young women, about young women going on road trip to support John Kerry’s 2004 Presidential campaign from California to Ohio. Farah Mahtab is an Iranian-American college graduate ‘trying to find herself’ and anxiously hoping to lose her virginity. She joins her friends, Roopa Raj and K.J. Lux on a tour across America where they meet a host of interesting characters (including drag queen Shangela) and find themselves in some sticky situations.

This may sound predictable, but it is anything but. Farah is careful about choosing the right person at the right time, and when she feels ready. In the end she takes control of the situation, and is successful in doing it her way. Throughout the film, Farah is obsessed with removing unwanted dark body hair, a curse of her background. This lends it a refreshing authenticity.
This indie film was funded through the Kickstarter Crowdfunding campaign and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Director Meera Menon was awarded the Nora Ephron Award.