Embedded Files
Details
Genre - Feature Docudrama
Language - English
Duration - 61 Mins
Location - France, India
Synopsis - Based on the Autobiography of Mother Veronica , “Strange Destiny” offers a never seen before take on the life of a Spiritual and religious giant and a visionary that has so far remained elusive from public knowledge.
A young catholic nun takes on an arduous journey to form a foundation for educating women in India against all personal and institutional odds.
Directed by BAFTA winner and Regional Oscar nominee Jigyasa Taneja and produced by Jam Productions with a team of Grammy winning music composers, Industry professionals from Mumbai and Europe behind the camera.
Cast
Saadhika Syal
Sophie/Mother Veronica
India
Hella Stichlmair
Sophie’s Mother
Germany/India
Aleksei Danilov
Sophie’s Brother
Russia/India
Sr. Sweedal A.c
Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified
India
Hemant Ingle
Father Ephrem
India
Jacques Démolis
France
Dominique Barrène
France
Voice Overs
Lucy Nicholls
Andrew Hoffland
Barbara
Sarah Lobo
Anushree Shukla
Crew
Jigyasa Taneja Sethi
Writer/Director
India
Vishal Bawa
Cinematographer
India
Mehmat Burak Yilmaz
Second Unit Camera
Estonia
Tushar Manocha
Editor
India
Anindo Bose
Music
India
Annette Philip
Music
USA
Martina Gofman
Make-up
Estonia
Production Management, JAM
Virendar Kumar Taneja
Post Production Sound
Sound and Vision Studios
Frame Us
Color Grading & Motion Graphics
Hardcover
Nube Cirrus
Promotions Design
Ashish Balraj Sharma
Apeksha Lal
Collaborations between artists and crew members continued on to post from Estonia, Delhi, UK, US and Mumbai into the wee hours of each night over one year as we explored this unique story.
Themes explored in the film that lead to discussions:
Women empowerment and education
Female travelers from Europe to India in 19th century and their interaction and impact on locals
Social and Education reform in India in 19th Century under Colonial rule
Perseverance in the face of Challenges
Human Rights and Leadership
Service to Society
Spiritual Themes:
Choosing one’s own path in Faith
Dark Knight of the Soul
Spirit of Surrender
Miracles
Life as a Religious
Vow of Obedience, Poverty, Chastity
Vow of Humility
Cloistered life and Active Missions
Journey of film India
The docu-drama went through a mystical and eventful journey during its making. Apart from bringing amateur actors from the Catholic community together, the film’s making involved moving through historical churches, studying costumes and architecture, as well as delving deep into faith based concepts. The crew learnt many new aspects with regards to culture, religion and spirituality in a way that has the power to bind us as a whole.
Mangalore, India
The shoot began in Mangalore with boot string budgets and soon gained weight as we went along digging into the past , discovering authentic locations like the Apostolic Carmel in Pau, the Cloistered Carmel in Bayonne (The sisters there were kind enough to let us shoot at their restricted premises). We were touched, humbled and encouraged to bring a period story to life thanks to the hospitality of the catholic community members who agreed to lend their home for our scene work in France and India.
Pau, France
Hiding traces of modernity from streets and churches, using minimalistic lighting, dynamic shot taking, judicious use of resources to recreate important scenes and montages from Mother Veronica’s story ,keeping the period intact was our main concern in Production Design .Exploring new landscapes for never before seen visuals that tracked Mother Veronica’s solo journeys in 19th century France was our next undertaking. We were in awe of the faith and support the documentary drama garnered- Not to Mention the strange coincidences and synchronicities seen in the course of creation at various stages including the rain gods who were kind to us in September and October in France! One of the most joyful memories is one of our Guerilla shoots that led us to on spot casting and dress up for improvised scenes in a village we chanced to visit in South France. We wrapped victoriously along with the Apostolic Carmel Sisters at Pau and our local guides.
Improvised Shoots in real locations with local talent and an international crew.
The struggle to put together the film mirrors that of our protagonist in many ways. There were countless obstacles on the journey from India to France like untimely Mangalorean rains in May, leading to postponement of one of the key scenes to delays in post-COVID travel permissions and clearances, delayed luggage carrying makeup equipment, language barriers in South India and France. But each obstacle made us determined to bring the project to fruition.
Casting amateur talent from the community.
Transformation of our lead actor
Make up continuity to age our lead who is in her 20’s playing different stages of Mother Veronica’s life in India and Europe up to 70 years of age was our most exciting challenge through and through.
The film covers her journey of visiting India and returning to Pau to form the foundation, being labeled a runaway nun as she moved from La Roche to other areas, Bayonne and her struggles at Bethlehem up until the the last stages of her life in Pau.
Google Sites
Report abuse