电影如蝴蝶,漂亮而短寿。千机万变抓住美好固已难能可贵,留住永恒之美,庶几无憾。印度气候潮热,多亏人称「奈尔先生」的印度电影保育之父,无数濒临损毁边缘的珍贵作品,得以保存修复。由门票收藏家变身菲林卫士,不避跋涉直入穷乡挽救烟没的电影,奈尔走过的路可有十万八千里?看着旧片重 温、各式制作公司商标的片头蒙太奇,印度电影史彷佛就在经他保留的影框之间无言揭示。遑论波兰大师赞禄西、斯里兰卡国宝培里斯等锦上添花的访谈,直构一场知性大丰收。
Henri Langlois, the French film preservation pioneer, had it easy compared to P. K. Nair. Nair, the founder of the National Film Archive of India, has been instrumental in salvaging his country's cinematic heritage, from early silent films to regional cinema to even popular Hindi movies. He has also been a teacher to a host of filmmakers, including this documentary's director. Heartfelt and illuminating, this is a celebration of cinema and a man who spends his life safeguarding film for future generations.