Joseph's Son
{{Short description|2023 Indian film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Joseph's Son
| image = Joseph's Son.jpg
| caption = Promotional poster
| native_name = Josephki Macha
| director = Haobam Paban Kumar
| writer =
| story = Sudhir Naoroibam
| screenplay = Sudhir Naoroibam
Haobam Paban Kumar
| based_on =
| producer = National Film Development Corporation Limited
Prithul Kumar
| starring = Rewben Mashangva
| cinematography = Joydeep Bose
| editing = Sankha
| music = Rewben Mashangva
Sound designer:
Sukanta Majumdar
| studio = National Film Development Corporation
Oli Pictures
| distributor =
| runtime = 83 minutes
| country = India
| language = Manipuri
}}
Joseph's Son (Meiteilon: Josephki Macha) is a Manipuri film released in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastmojo.com/manipur/2023/06/09/manipur-haobam-paban-kumars-film-joseph-ki-macha-to-premiere-at-shanghai-intl-film-fest/|title=Manipur: Haobam Paban Kumar’s film ‘Joseph ki Macha’ to premiere at Shanghai Int’l Film Fest|access-date=2024-09-20|website=www.eastmojo.com}} It is based on a true story and features Rewben Mashangva. The film was directed by Haobam Paban Kumar{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=Haobam Paban Kumar: Voice from the Valley |url=https://openthemagazine.com/cinema/haobam-paban-kumar-voice-from-the-valley/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Open The Magazine |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520024202/https://openthemagazine.com/cinema/haobam-paban-kumar-voice-from-the-valley/ |url-status=live }} and produced by the National Film Development Corporation Limited, with Oli Pictures as a co-producer. The screenplay was written by Sudhir Naoroibam, a Sahitya Akademi Award winner, alongside Haobam.{{Cite news |date=2023-06-05 |title=Filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar's 'Joseph's Son' to premiere at Shanghai film fest |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/filmmaker-haobam-paban-kumars-josephs-son-to-premiere-at-shanghai-film-fest/articleshow/100753017.cms |access-date=2024-08-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2024-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906110736/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/filmmaker-haobam-paban-kumars-josephs-son-to-premiere-at-shanghai-film-fest/articleshow/100753017.cms |url-status=live }} It is based on Sudhir Naoroibam's short story with the same title.{{Cite news|url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/haobam-paban-kumars-josephs-son-to-have-indian-premiere-as-well-as-to-compete-with-11-films-in-kolkata-international-film-festival-2023|title=Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son to have Indian Premiere as well as to compete with 11 Films in Kolkata International Film Festival 2023|author=Guru Aribam Naocha|access-date=2024-09-20|newspaper=Imphal Times}}
The film premiered at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival in June 2023,{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Bikash |date=2023-06-10 |title=Manipuri film 'Joseph ki Macha' to premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/manipuri-film-joseph-ki-macha-to-premiere-at-shanghai-international-film-festival/articleshow/100884844.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-08-04 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=2024-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803054705/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/manipuri-film-joseph-ki-macha-to-premiere-at-shanghai-international-film-festival/articleshow/100884844.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }} where it was the only Indian film among 11 which competed for the Golden Goblet Award.{{Cite web |title=Entry for Golden Goblet Awards {{!}} JOSEPH’S SON: Long Shorts for Wrath Pervading Homeland |url=https://www.siff.com/english/content?aid=101230615155501439056806648483845673 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=www.siff.com |archive-date=2024-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906110741/https://www.siff.com/english/content?aid=101230615155501439056806648483845673 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-10 |title=Haobam Paban Kumar’s Manipuri film 'Joseph ki Macha' to premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival |url=http://nenow.in/top-news/haobam-paban-kumars-manipuri-film-joseph-ki-macha-to-premiere-at-shanghai-international-film-festival.html |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906110739/https://nenow.in/top-news/haobam-paban-kumars-manipuri-film-joseph-ki-macha-to-premiere-at-shanghai-international-film-festival.html |url-status=live }}
Synopsis
Joseph's Son follows the story of Joseph, a highlander caught in the midst of ethnic clashes as he searches for his missing son. The film portrays Joseph's escalating fear and anxiety as he grapples with the turmoil of ongoing conflict and his personal concerns. David, Joseph's son, is a dedicated footballer who has not returned home. His absence prompts his mother to persuade Joseph to undertake the search for him. After exhausting all avenues with David's friends and finding no leads, Joseph turns to the police for assistance. They inform him that a body in the Imphal morgue may belong to David, and that he needs to verify the identity of the body in person. Despite his reservations and the daunting nature of the journey, Joseph reluctantly embarks on the long and arduous trip to Imphal. The film delves into Joseph's emotional and physical challenges as he confronts the possibility of a tragic outcome while navigating the chaos surrounding him.
Screening
In November 2023, Joseph's Son was selected for screening at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), which took place on 5 December 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Insurgency: What’s happening in Manipur, asks filmmaker |url=https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/insurgency-whats-happening-in-manipur-asks-filmmaker-544052 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=www.millenniumpost.in |language=en |archive-date=2024-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804080238/https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/insurgency-whats-happening-in-manipur-asks-filmmaker-544052 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Naocha |first=Guru Aribam |date=2023-11-17 |title=Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son to have Indian Premiere as well as to compete with 11 Films in Kolkata International Film Festival 2023 |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/haobam-paban-kumars-josephs-son-to-have-indian-premiere-as-well-as-to-compete-with-11-films-in-kolkata-international-film-festival-2023/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=News from Manipur - Imphal Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906110747/https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/haobam-paban-kumars-josephs-son-to-have-indian-premiere-as-well-as-to-compete-with-11-films-in-kolkata-international-film-festival-2023/ |url-status=live }} It was also featured at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala 2023 in Thiruvananthapuram.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-19 |title=Manipur film Joseph’s Son to compete in 29th KIFF |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/manipur-film-josephs-son-compete-29th-kiff/articleshow/105324338.cms |access-date=2024-08-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2023-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211165219/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/manipur-film-josephs-son-compete-29th-kiff/articleshow/105324338.cms |url-status=live }} Additionally, the film was one of 14 nominees for the Alternativa Film Awards 2023 in Kazakhstan.{{Cite web |last=Akoijam |first=Jeet |date=2023-11-13 |title=Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph ‘S Son to compete for Alternative Film Awards 2023 in Kazakhstan |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/haobam-paban-kumars-joseph-s-son-to-compete-for-alternative-film-awards-2023-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=News from Manipur - Imphal Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804081823/https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/haobam-paban-kumars-joseph-s-son-to-compete-for-alternative-film-awards-2023-in-kazakhstan/ |url-status=live }}
Accolades
| class="wikitable" |
| Award
! Category ! Winner's name(s) !{{Tooltip|Ref.|References}} |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|1st North East India Film Festival, Manipur 2024
| Best Direction | rowspan="2"|{{Cite web|url=https://manipurarticles.com/assamese-films-shine-at-the-northeast-india-film-festival-in-manipur/|title=Assamese Films Shine at the Northeast India Film Festival in Manipur|accessdate=15 February 2025|website=manipurarticles.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sakshipost.com/news/five-day-north-east-india-film-festival-concludes-manipur-280029|title=Five-day North East India Film Festival concludes in Manipur|accessdate=15 February 2025|website=www.sakshipost.com}} |
| Jury Award for Outstanding Performance |
| 29th Kolkata International Film Festival
| Special Jury Award | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| 20th Kazan International Film Festival, Russia
| Special Jury Mention | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| rowspan="2"|1st Guwahati Asian Film Festival 2025
| Best Film | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Best Music
| Rewben Mashangva |
| rowspan="6"|16th Manipur State Film Awards
| Best Direction | Haobam Paban Kumar |
| Best Cinematography
| Joydeep Bose |
| Best Editing
| Sankha |
| Best Audiography (Location sound recording)
| Sabyasachi Pal |
| Best Lyricist
| Rewben Mashangva |
| Best Screenplay
| Sudhir Naoroibam & Haobam Paban Kumar |
References
{{reflist}}