The Bucheon International Film Festival (BIFAN), Asia’s premium genre cinema event, announced the official selection of writer-director Sudeep Kanwal’s directorial debut “PRIVACY”.
“PRIVACY” is a social thriller set in and out of Mumbai slums. It follows the story of Roopali, who works at the Mumbai surveillance command and control center as an operator.
While being ambitious, she constantly fights her own guilt and resists her dark past.
Things start to get complicated when Roopali ignores protocol and begins to investigate a robbery/murder that takes place on her watch.
“PRIVACY” presents a harsh reality of video surveillance in urban centers, and how important is it to have personal privacy. Through its hyperrealistic approach, and dark tone, the film takes the neo-noir approach to explore the themes of mental health, voyeurism, and access to information.
“The access to personal data by big corporations should be a topic of concern. Yet, we don’t hear much about it. There are no strict regulations against collection of data. Even though the film is based around a CCTV control room. The theme of losing privacy to technology is similar to what’s happening to all of us on a daily basis. I hope the film can make the viewer aware of privacy issues that surround us,” says director Sudeep Kanwal.
“I have always been fascinated with the concept of surveillance. From the Peeping Tom concept of Rear Window, to the eavesdropping world of The Conversation, or the modern micro surveillance depicted in Snowden, it just shows how interested we are in the lives of other people. But, the important question is how much access to someone’s private life is okay? Should an institution have unlimited access to personal information? Wouldn’t that lead to an Orwellian dystopia?” concludes the director.
Watch the trailer for Privacy below –
Bloody Flicks 