Films don't have the power to change society: Rajko

Croatian film director Rajko Grlic may have helmed award winning movies, but the filmmaker believes cinema cannot spark a change in the society.

Grlic, director of films like "Bravo Maestro", "Three for Happiness" and "The Border Post", feels cinema can remind a person of their inherent qualities but not bring about a blanket change in society at large.

"I don't think films can change something. They can't change society, films are stories. They communicate emotions. If you manage to communicate it with someone, it can remind a person that may be some good elememts in him or her exist," he told reporters here.
 

The director was speaking at a press briefing at the 47th edition of International film festival of India (IFFI) where his recent film "The Constitution" was screened.

"They (people) can see films and say 'I don't react like that, may be I should. I don't need to hate everyone around myself'. So that's what the film (The Constitution) is about. Lets try to freeze our frustration and see if we can talk to the nearest person," he added.

When asked if he belive his films can bring about a change at a personal level he said, "In few persons around the world, yes, which is more than enough for one film. I hope it is at least a beginning. We make films to communicate with people."

"The Constitution" is a story of four people who live in the same apartment building in downtown Zagreb, but are wary of each other because they don't share the same ethnic and religious backgrounds and sexual preferences.

The filmmaker said he was surprised to see the Indian audience lap up the movie, which had a screening today morning.

"I didn't expect people would come in such huge numbers. What I heard after, when hundreds of people came to me, I was totally surprised. They said they were crying, laughing and feeling all the emotions."

The film had its world premiere at the 2016 Montreal World Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prize of the Americas for best film.

Though his films have often been well received at the festival circuit, the 69-year old filmmaker doesn't believe in making art-house cinema and feels there should be a purpose for which films are made, specially in today's age where people are making movies on cell phones.

"Each of us who is making a film, from a school boy on iPhone to big huge budget Hollywood films, everyone is trying to tell a story. It's just that where you want to go with the story. I need to have some reason to make it, not just to spend some time or make money...

"I don't believe in so called heavy art films just for festivals. I think that's a waste of time and energy. I think if I spend three years making a film, I'd like to communicate, see crowd in the dark room.