(This information is courtesy of Tamina Davar, who has worked with Sooni Taraporevala for the last several years on publicity for her photography book on Parsi Zoroastrians, and who is currently working on a documentary film about Taraporevala – see link below)
A heads-up to community members:
Sooni Taraporevala, who wrote the screenplay for THE NAMESAKE, is now debuting as a director – and the website for her film has just made its appearance online.
The new film LITTLE ZIZOU (which she also wrote) is slated for a 2009 release. And…. has been selected as closing night film for the MIAAC Film Festival in NYC, on November 9.
LITTLE ZIZOU is set in Bombay, amongst the Parsi Zoroastrian community. It’s is a fast-paced, exuberant yet poignant comedy, with a message of tolerance at its heart.
Sooni’s photography book on India’s Parsi community will also be prominently featured at the Festival – stay tuned. If you’re familiar with the beautiful book, LITTLE ZIZOU brings those images to life.
FYI, ‘Little Zizou’ is the nickname of the film’s main character Xerxes, a young Parsi boy who’s biggest wish is for his idol, Zinedine Zidane, to visit Bombay. (Zidane, nicknamed Zizou, is the famous French football/soccer player of Algerian origin).
The MIAAC site and the LITTLE ZIZOU site will be updated further in the coming weeks; so keep checking their sites. And – to learn more about Sooni, her book, her other photographs, or her filmography – check out Sooni’s own site.
Hopefully LITTLE ZIZOU will come to a theatre near you. Meanwhile, please spread the word.
LINKS:
LITTLE ZIZOU film:
http://www.littlezizouthemovie.com/
MIAAC Film Fest:
http://www.iaac.us/MIAAC2008/ClosingNight/invitation.htm
Avan Projects: trailer for documentary film on Sooni Taraporevala:
http://www.avanprojects.com
Sooni Taraporevala:
http://www.soonitaraporevala.com
