LOVE IN THE TIME OF MALARIA BY SAJIV SHAH (1992)
Movie
Date: November 18, 2023 Time: 7:30pm Duration: 128 min City: Leuven Location: Cinema Zed, Vesalius Theme: Movie
Date: November 26, 2023 Time: 2:30pm Duration: 128 min City: Leuven Location: Cinema Zed, Vesalius Theme: Movie
Mysterious mosquitoes spread a strange disease that causes unrest among the residents of the kingdom of Khojpuri. King Bhadrabhoop II, a monarch so strict that he even bans his citizens’ dreams if he doesn’t like their content, watches jealously as the nonconformist influence of the mosquitoes stirs his subjects into protest. Unworldly scientist Hunshilal is loyal to the king and discovers a deadly pesticide that will wipe out the mosquitoes and with them their anarchist tendency. When he falls in love with fellow scientist Parveen during his research, he begins to question his actions and is forced to choose sides.
Love in the Time of Malaria is a sharp musical comedy. Although the satire is sometimes not very subtle and clearly refers to contemporary people and events, the film remains timeless and – even more importantly – hilarious. Director Sanjiv Shah uses different narrative forms for his only fictional work: the film fluctuates between fairy tales, musicals, the Tamasha theater tradition, and quasi-documentary images that remind us that we are certainly in India. This gem from the 90s has only recently resurfaced and is now on display for all to see.
Trailer
Different languages/English subtitles