Visioni d’Oriente (Visions of the East) is the appointment with Asian cinema within the “Cinema is Never Enough” festival promoted by Associazione La Scatola Blu in collaboration with Apulia Film Commission, which will be held at Cineporto in Bari on Tuesday 11 and Tuesday 18 December.

Two screenings from the COEmedia Distribuzione Cinema Catalogue to learn more about contemporary Southeast Asia by following the vicissitudes of two brothers from a slum in Chennai with the dream of tasting their first slice of pizza, and love at the time of inter-ethnic conflicts.

A small journey between India and Srilanka with The Crow’s Egg by M. Manikandan and With You, Without You by Prasanna Vithagane, two films that speak of cultural and social contrasts, new generations and love.

With You, Without You

by Prasanna Vithagane, Srilanka, 2012, 90′

In Sri Lanka, where the war between the army and the Tamil people ended not long ago, Sarathsiri, a former soldier, works as a moneylender, managing a pawnshop and leading a reserved life in the modest apartment located on the second floor of the same building. Like many other people in economic difficulties, the young Tamil refugee Selvi goes to the pawn shop to borrow a little money. Captivated by the woman’s beauty, Sarathsiri follows her and discovers that she is about to marry an old man just for money. He thus offers to take her as his wife. Based on “The meek” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

The Crow’s Egg

by M. Manikandan, India, 2014, 90′

Two brothers from a very poor Indian family climb trees to feed on crows’ eggs and get cheaper protein than chicken eggs. The opening of a pizzeria in the presence of a Bollywood star, right in the street adjacent to their slum, is a sensation and all the TVs are talking about it. The possibility of entering that place and tasting the pizza becomes the greatest ambition of the two brothers who begin to save money to be able to taste this dish, unknown to them and very expensive.