Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Konstantin Bojanov Fotografia / Photography: Gabriel Lobos Montaggio / Editing: Tom Hsin Ming Lin Musica / Music: Petar Dundakov Suono / Sound: Philippe Grivel Scenografia, costumi / Set Designer, Costume Designer: Parul Sondh Interpreti / Cast: Anasuya Sengupta, Omara Shetty, Auroshikha Dey, Rohit Kokate, Mita Vasisht, Kiran Bhivagade, Tanmay Dhanania, Mihir Agrawal Produzione / Produced by: Akka Films, Urban Factory, Klas Film, House on Fire, Teamo Productions HQ (TPHQ) Coproduzione / Co-produced by: RTS-RadioTelevision Suisse Con il sostegno di / Supported by: Eurimages, Federal Office of Culture, Cineforom, Loterie Romande, Paris Region, Bulgarian National Film Centre, Taiwan’s International Co-Funding Program, Storiculture, Katsize Films Distribuzione internazionale / World Sales: Urban Sales
In the dead of night, Renuka escapes from a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman to death. She takes refuge in a community of sex workers in northern India, where she meets Devika, a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution. Their bond develops into a forbidden romance. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to escape the law and forge their path to freedom. The Shameless premiered in “Un Certain Regard” at Cannes 2024 where Anasuya Sengupta won the award for Best Actress.
“The initial inspiration for the film came from a nonfiction book called Nine Lives by William Dalrymple, a British writer, historian, and long-time resident of India. My goal was to make a documentary comprising four distinct stories … By crossreferencing them, I wanted to delve into themes like love, sexuality, free will, and artistic expression within the boundaries of caste, religious beliefs, and political divisions in present-day India … I had several advisors guiding me on the cultural aspects of the story … I also read just about every book available in English about the devadasi system, even though it’s only the background against which the story takes place and not its focus. I’m not a realist filmmaker. My goal was not to create a realistic social drama. It’s not the realm in which I work, no matter where the story is set. The stories I tell are fables.” (K. Bojanov)
Konstantin Bojanov
Bulgarian-American film director, screenwriter, and visual artist Konstantin Bojanov was born in 1968. He graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Sofia, earned his Master’s Degree from the Royal College of Art in London and went on study documentary-filmaking at the New York University. His films have received numerous awards and have been screened in over 40 international film festivals. Beyond the realm of cinema, Bojanov’s artwork has been exhibited in numerous art galleries and museums across the globe. The Trieste FF presented his debut feature Avé in competition in 2012. After its premiere at the Cannes FF, The Shameless was selected at the Sarajevo and Warsaw FF, among others.
filmografia scelta / selected filmography
2001 Lemon Is Lemon cm / sf doc. 2005 Invisible doc. 2011 Avé; Premi / Awards: Warsaw IFF – Premio FIPRESCI / FIPRESCI Prize; Sarajevo FF – Premio speciale della giuria / Special Jury Prize; Sofia IFF – Miglior film, Migliore regia, Miglior film dei Balcani / Best Bulgarian Feature Film, Best Director, Best Balkan Film; Wiesbaden goEast – Migliore regia / Best Director; Vilnius IFF – Migliore attrice / Best Actress 2017 Light Thereafter; Premi / Awards: Golden Rose Bulgarian FF – Migliore fotografia / Best Cinematography 2024 The Shameless; Premi / Awards: Cannes FF – Premio “Un Certain Regard” per la Migliore attrice / “Un Certain Regard” Award for Best Actress
