BATTU'S BIOSCOPE

In Europe, the phenomenon of the travelling cinema existed only in the early years of cinema, when the movie theatre was still a fairground attraction; soon, most cities and villages had their own cinemas, followed by video-clubs that rented out films. In India, there are still 2,000 mobile cinemas, one of which, is "Battu s Bioscope", a colourful vehicle, containing an old Soviet projector, a few white cloth sheets, and several kilometers of celluloid film. Mr Battu drives slowly along the sun-scorched roads of India, his quarrelsome assistant Mama at his side, and the young Amit sitting on top of the truck, announcing the next show through a loudspeaker. The elderly Battu is an idealist who thinks you can change people by showing them films. Andrzej Fidyk s team accompanies "Battus Bioscope" from Calcutta, through fishermen s villages and snake hunters settlements, up to the distant Orissa province. This is the dwelling place of primitive tribes, whose way of life hasn t changed for thousands of years. After years of trying, Mr Battu has finally been issued a permit to show a film to these people who do not even know cinema exists.