The Asian Busan project market will present “The Magical Men”, a Queer love story by the writer-director Spiplob Sarkar which highlights the performance community of Bahurupi marginalized in South Asia. Produced by Fran Borgia, François d’Artemare, Sankhajit Biswas and Sarkar, the film explores intimacy, resilience and identity in the context of folk traditions of discoloration and rooted social taboos.
Located in Old Dhaka, “The Magical Men” follows Sukumar and Hemanta, artists from Bahurupi who play Shiva and Parvati during Neel Shashti Puja, even if their profession no longer supports them. Their secret romance takes place in the midst of tense family ties, the harassment of the police and the personal struggles of the artists, culminating in the disappearance of Hemanta and the crisis of the memory, love and survival of Sukumar.
For Sarkar, who projected “The Stranger” in the new Busan Current section in 2023, the new project is based on its commitment to stories of marginalized communities. “They embody gods and goddesses in their performance, carrying the discolving tradition, on the other hand, in their daily existence, they fight for dignity and survival in a society which often marginalizes them. For me, their art has become a wider mirror of identity, freedom and love, ”he says.
Producer Sankhajit Biswas, who has worked a lot with queer communities, stressed the importance of the international exhibition. “Even if queer stories gain voice in South Asia, we must remember that hostility and homophobia are still not arrested. It is therefore important that these films reach international success to create a traction for domestic liberation and wide visibility,” he said.
Borgia, whose recent credits include “Stranger Eyes”, the current submission of the Oscars of Singapore, said that he had been moved by the vision of Sarkar. “It is a very personal story for Splubb – a complex exploration of human relations within a company that does not allow such connections to exist openly. The way the characters, as interior, sail both silent and noisy at the same time was really magical for me, “he said.
The consider Busan team as a vital launch for the project. “In addition to co -production and financing partners, distributors and sales agents, we will also look for impact producers who will be able to bring the film to the good type of audience, not only to Bangladesh and India, but also in the world,” explains Biswas. Borgia added that APM has “always been extremely beneficial for our films” and said that the team aims to connect with collaborators who share their belief in the urgency of queer and culturally specific stories.
