| Balekempa | |
| Director: | Ere Gowda |
| Producer: | Vivek Gomber, Chaitanya Tamhane |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Kannada |
| Cinematography: | Saumyananda Sahi |
| Editing: | Saumyananda Sahi |
| Music: | Benedict Taylor, Naren Chandavarkar |
| Studio: | Zoo Entertainment Pvt Ltd |
| Starring: | Jnanesh, Bhagya Shree, Chandrashekar C.S, Nagaraju D.P |
Balekempa (translation: The Bangle Seller) is a 2018 Kannada drama film written and directed by Ere Gowda. Produced by Zoo Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the film is about the relationship between a travelling bangle seller and his wife.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The film was included in the list of the ten most notable films at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.[6]
Kempanna, the bangle seller, roams the countryside adorning the hands and faces of women with beauty products. Yet he seems to have little time for his own wife, Saubaghya. Indeed, the only activity that husband and wife do together is taking care of Kempanna's invalid mother. Otherwise, Kempanna seems to prefer the company of his childhood friend, Hanuma, in the quiet and private setting of Hanuma's farm. Meanwhile, Saubaghya's only companion is the neighbour's teenage son Mahesha, who delivers the milk and can't quite control his hormones. The now long married couple's inability to conceive is a concern for Saubaghya's mother who goes to the local deity and prays for the boon of a child. However, without Kempanna's participation, prayers have little effect.
When Saubaghya insists on getting a life insurance policy and disappears to her mother's house, Kempanna has to face what is really wrong with their marriage. For behind every frustration there seem to lurk burning desires. Who is concealing the greater secret - husband, or wife? While society watches, will a child be born?
| Year | Country | Festival | Category | Result | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Brazil! | International Film Festival in São Paulo[7] | Competição de Novos Diretores (New Directors Competition) | |||
| India | Dharamshala International Film Festival | |||||
| Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image | Indiagold | Indian Premier | ||||
| Japan | Fukuoka International Film Festival, Japan | Japanese Premier | ||||
| Poland | Transatlantyk Festival,Poland[8] | New Cinema | ||||
| Australia | Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Achievement in Cinematography | [9] | |||
| Indian Film Festival of Melbourne | [10] | Australian Premiere | ||||
| South Korea | Jeonju International Film Festival[11] | World Cinemascape | ||||
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival | ||||||
| Canada | International Film Festival of South Asia, Toronto[12] | Canada Premiere | ||||
| UK | East End Film Festival[13] | UK Premiere | ||||
| USA | New York Indian Film Festival[14] | Best film | US Premiere | |||
| Best director | [15] | |||||
| Netherlands | International Film Festival Rotterdam | FIPRESCI Award | [16] | "For its subtle and delightful portrayal of a universal theme against the background of a rich local culture." | ||
| 2017 | India | NFDC Film Bazaar | Work-in-Progress Lab | [17] |