MACHAN

Sri Lanka/Italy/Germany, 2008, 108 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Uberto Pasolini.

Machan is based on a true story. The focus is on migration from Sri Lanka and the possibilities and impossibilities of getting visas to go to Europe.

Two young men think up a scheme to get out of Sri Lanka and into Europe. They see an advertisement about a handball competition. They decide to make themselves the Sri Lankan national handball team but don’t bother to learn anything about the rules or practise because they intend to escape once they are in Europe.

The film focuses on the stories of the various men, their lives in Colombo, their hardships. It also focuses on the differences between the rich and the poor. However, once the team gets to Germany and are humiliated in their first game, they do get some team spirit in order to score at least one goal. After that, they disappear from the hotel – and a postscript suggests that they have not been heard from since.

The film preceded Slum Dog Millionaire into the theatres but did not have as wide distribution. However, there is something of the same spirit of life in the subcontinent, hardships, but some forms of hope and optimism.

1.A true story? Topical? Sri Lanka? Poverty and wealth? Migration?

2.The use of Colombo streets, homes, the five-star hotel, the restaurants, the toilets in the hotel, the kitchen? The homes of the poor? The musical score?

3.The contrast with Germany, the airport, the hotel, the games venues, the countryside?

4.The title, reference to the men?

5.A cross-section of people in Colombo? Stanley and his selling fruit, Manoche and his work in the hotel? The opening, the dog, people in the streets, the urinating dog? Putting up the posters? The toilet attendant and his patience, humiliation? His being made redundant? The cleaners, the waiters? The man who tended graves? The gigolo and the European women? The petty crook and his money dealings? The situation, their being nobodies, class system? Hopes for migration, work, sending home money? Supporting families?

6.The visa day, dressing to go to the office, the family support, the interview, their not researching their preparations, their rejection?

7.The brainwave, the handball advertisement, discussions, not knowing anything about it, talking with the others, building up the team, the gigolo and the website, the application forms, buying the jerseys in the market, getting the photo, the sponsors? The money, the petty crook? Their being accepted into the competition? Trying to get the permissions to go? Final success?

8.The preparations for the trip, the plans?

9.Manoche his family, wanting to leave, taking him to the meal in the hotel, his saying he was ashamed of them, not going?

10.Stanley, desperate, his little brother, his bringing in the money from the greyhound races, buying the jerseys? Stanley seeing himself as a loser?

11.The gigolo, the women, the phone, his girlfriend, leaving?

12.The gravedigger, the pathos of his story and being told in Germany? The petty crook and his influence on the group?

13.The airport, the flight, arrival, tension, passport control?

14.The accommodation, the German guide, the hotel, the plan, waking up, breakfast, being forced to play an early match, their bewilderment, losing, the reaction, spirit, the crook and his speech, Stanley and his reaction, playing, actually scoring a goal and their delight? The saying goodnight to Stanley – and their leaving?

15.The police arriving, their having all gone?

16.The goodbye, scattering around the countryside, throughout Europe? The postscript information about their disappearing into Europe?