Reza Bahar on the power of cinema

German producer Reza Bahar, who was in Chennai, spoke about the challenges of filmmaking and the need to be uncompromising...
PITCH PERFECT
Casting for a film is a challenge like no other. And when it came to our latest venture Bastard, we needed a strong female presence, someone who could raise a credible counterpoint to the angry, young male protagonist.Our very first choice was Martina Gedeck, who happens to be one of the most sought-after stars in Germany. She had garnered international acclaim after playing the female lead in the Oscar winning The Lives of Others (2006). And we wanted her in the film.
GREAT START
We kept our fingers crossed when we mailed Martina the screenplay of the film. She had just read a few pages and called us back to tell us she was up to it. It was great to have her on board as her presence also helped mainstream audiences, both locally and internationally, take note of this film. Of course, it’s always hard to make people watch your movie. There’s this leap of faith that we as filmmakers take, every time we decide to embark on a cinematic journey.
THE PAINFUL TRUTH
When we chose to make our film, we drew inspiration from the works of auteurs the world over. Michael Haneke, the Austrian director behind films such as The White Ribbon and Funny Games, was one filmmaker whose oeuvre pushed us on. Of course, we also enjoyed turning the concept of parental control right on its head. We knew there would be those who would not agree with our points of view. But one needs to stick to his or her guns and deliver the product that they believe in. It’s the only way to work.