Cactus to travel to Cannes

Cactus, a feature-length film, which deals with religion-based stigma and is based on

Jesus Christ

, will be presented at Festival de

Cannes

2019 in Marche du film section. The film opened in Vienna and was nominated for Rome Film Awards.
Cactus is not like a linear narrative, it dwells on symbolic motifs to narrate the journey of Jesus Christ and

Mother Mary

. The film is loosely based on the artforms Pieta and the Last Supper.
As per the director,

Aneek Chaudhuri

, “Cactus was perceived on observing the radical changes taking place in the shadow of religion. I thought noone but Mother Mary could be depicted as the ambassador of peace. Besides, eastern traditions have been questioned a numerous times; now, itis the turn to show a mirror to the West as well.”
The title of this film derives itself from alternative perspectives on life. Aneek adds, “When we hear the word, ‘Cactus’, the first characteristic that defines it are the thorns; however, the stem is a watery part of the plant but people fail to relate to it. I wanted to show an alternative reality to life. That’s why it is named Cactus.”
Anurupa Chakraborty and Aishani De play Mother Mary in two different eras, while Aparajita Dey plays the female avatar of Jesus Christ.
On casting a female actor in the role of Jesus Christ, Aneek says, “I cannot think of any male as the epitome of Christ, as depicted in Bible. The sensitivity, or the endurance, I strongly feel only a woman has such characteristics. Amrita Chattopadhyay was my first choice, but due to unavoidable circumstances, she was replaced by Aparajita.”
Festival de Cannes 2019 begins in mid-May and will continue for 10 days.