History reveals fascinating turning points: a compelling letter from Indian scientist Satyendra Nath Bose to Einstein addressed as “Dear Master” sparked a breakthrough that forever altered our understanding of light and matter…. and the universe.
Join the filmmaker Subha Das Mollick for a screening of Dear Master, a film exploring this pivotal moment in science. Ohio State University is proud to host the first international screening of the film followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and Bose and Einstein’s descendants. Join this rare and special event on Zoom (sign up in advance here).
Kolkata friends, I hope you’ll consider stopping by The British Council‘s Kolkata office this Friday 9/15 at 6pm for a screening and discussion of the great documentary filmmaker and professor Subha Das Mollick‘s beautiful documentary “City Symphonies” @ 16 Camac Street.
Last year during the lockdown a few friends approached me about joining them in founding an online group devoted primarily to Indian independent cinema outside of Bollywood, and the Independent Film Circle was born. We quickly amassed members in the US, India and Bangladesh and had an incredible year, starting with a 12-week Film Appreciation course led by film director Debashish Sen Sharma.
I’m thrilled to share that a week from today we’ll host a talk by our newest member, the acclaimed documentary filmmaker and educator Subha Das Mollick.
One of her docs, Crosswinds Over Ichhamati, about the impact that the Partition of 1947 had on rural border communities in what are now the nation of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) and the Indian state of West Bengal, is available for free on youtube and quite engrossing.
The West Memphis Three—Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelly—are free men today.
With the promise of a new trial in December, a representative for the state of Arkansas said it would be “practically impossible to put on a new case after 18 years. The sentences would be different and appeals would ensure.” He said he feared that a trial could result in the WM3 suing the state.
He said the defendants could very easily been acquitted in a new trial and added, “I believe this case is closed.”
The terms of the case allow the judgments to stand while allowing the defendants to maintain their innocence. “This is a right decision on behalf of the state, and I stand by it.”
Echols received a death sentence, with Baldwin and Misskelly receiving life sentences for their supposed roles in the deaths of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, who were found murdered and mutilated in a wooded area in West Memphis, Ark. in May 1993. At the time of their arrests, Misskelley was 17, Baldwin was 16 and Echols was 18. All three have maintained that they did not commit the murders.
In court today to witness the proceedings were Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, directors of the “Paradise Lost” documentaries that chronicled the fight to prove their innocence for nearly two decades, as was longtime supporter and Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder. CONT’D AT INDIEWIRE>>
