THE CLAY BIRD
Pakistan, 2002, 95 minutes,Colour.
Nurul Islam Bublu, Russell Farazi.
Directed by Tarique Masud.
The Clay Bird is one of the major films from Bangladesh. For the Bangladeshi audience, it is a journey back into the time of the clash with Pakistan and the separation of East Pakistan to become Bangladesh.
While the film focuses on a young boy and his family, his father a remote pharmacist who has his principles but is harsh towards his family, especially in stopping medicine for his very sick daughter who dies, the mother married at 14, a vivacious girl who lives a life virtual servitude, and the little sister who is sick. The boy is sent to school and enjoys the experience of education, help from some of the teachers, and finding a best friend.
In the meantime, there are rumblings of war, even coming to this remote village. The boy’s uncle is a progressive and influences the boy – as the war begins.
The film won a FIPRESCI award in Cannes in 2002 as well is a screenplay award in Morocco.
1. A Bangladeshi film? The introduction to the situation in East Pakistan in the 1960s? The relationship with Pakistan? The build-up to in 20? Enmity?
2. The location photography, the Bangladeshi countryside, the small villages, homes, schools? The River? The contrast with the grand old buildings? The musical score? Local songs?
3. The title? The symbol?
4. The focus on the family, the father and his being a pharmacist, the arranged marriage, his hard attitude towards his wife, towrads his children? His reputation in the village? His daughter’s illness, the medicine he prescribed, fevers, getting worse, her death? The possibility of having used other medicines to help her? The wife, her subservience, marrying at 14, her former vitality, staying at home, obeying her husband, caring for her children, her needlework? The escape to enjoy the concert while her husband was away? Her finally confronting him? His admission of his harshness?
5. The story of a little boy, going away to school, it being strange, the issue of his name, his friendship with Rockon, the details of life in the school, the classes, writing, the meals, the dormitory? The boys playing, snobbery towards newcomers? Anu and his playing with Rockon? Their forming a strong friendship?
6. The uncle, his modern thinking, discussions with his friends, the issue of the conflict with Pakistan? The Communist influence? His looking after his nephew? Broadening his horizons?
7. The teachers at the school, kindness, supporting Anu?
8. The build-up of tensions, the military, the effect on people in the village?
9. The imminent partition, yet ordinary people going about their ordinary lives, at home, in the village, travelling on the river?
10. A memoir of difficult times in the history of Bangladesh?
