Introducing
Iyanah Bativala
Jahan Bativala

With
Kamal Sidhu
Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal
Kurush Deboo
Tknow Francorsi
Kunal Vijaykar
Cyrus Broacha
Lyndee Prickitt
Shiamak Davar

length 101 minutes
screening format 35mm 1:1.85
  

Little Zizou is a comedy for audiences of all ages and nationalities. It is the rambunctious and moving story of how two battling Bombay families finally come to terms. In the spirit of Federico Fellini, with just a hint of Mel Brooks, Little Zizou presents characters who show us the necessity of love and the possibility of grace.

Xerxes, 'little zizou' as he's known, is an eleven year old soccer-mad Parsi boy whose fervent wish is that his idol Zinedine Zidane visit Bombay. His older brother Art is a talented artist whose wild fantasies come to life in surprising ways. Their father Khodaiji is a power-crazed self-proclaimed protector-of-the-faith who thrives on the attentions (and donations) of hopeful believers.

Art burns with unrequited love for the daughter of Khodaiji's arch rival, Pressvala, a free thinking newspaper publisher. And to the extreme displeasure of their other daughter, Xerxes adores the maternal Mrs Pressvala. But the real fireworks begin when Pressvala writes a scathing critique of would-be prophet Khodaiji and public reaction is widespread.

As the two households intermingle and conflict, their differences become hilariously apparent and life becomes deliciously complicated for everyone.

Little Zizou stars a galaxy of Indian talent, and celebrates music, dance, lush Indian scenery, even heartbreak; a film that depicts the wonderfully unique and fascinating world of Bombay's Parsi community.

Award winning screenwriter (The Namesake, Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala) and debuting director Sooni Taraporevala has triumphed in crafting a wildly original and exuberant comedy with a subtle, yet transcendent message of tolerance.

Little Zizou is a timeless work and destined to be an international favorite.

After 20 years of being a screenwriter and a still photographer, Little Zizou is Sooni Taraporevala’s directorial debut.

Born in 1957 and raised in Bombay, India, a scholarship took her to Harvard University in 1979 where she studied English Literature, Film, Photography as an undergraduate. After completing her graduate work in Cinema Studies from New York University she returned to India to work as a freelance still photographer. Her photographs were exhibited in India, the United States, France, and Britain.

In 1988, with the success of her first screenplay Salaam Bombay! she found herself with a screenwriting career. She lived in Los Angeles, wrote screenplays for a variety of directors, producers, studios, before moving back to India in 1993.

In 2000 she published a book of her photographs PARSIS: The Zoroastrians of India - A Photographic Journey. A second edition was published by Overlook Press, NY in 2004 and is currently in print.

She lives in Bombay with her husband and two children.

www.soonitaraporevala.com

2008: Little Zizou: Feature: Written & Directed by Sooni Taraporevala
  
2006 : The Namesake: Feature: Directed by Mira Nair, Based on the book by Jhumpa Lahiri, Screenplay by Sooni Taraporevala
  
1999: Such A Long Journey: Feature: Directed by Sturla Gunnarson, Based on the book by Rohinton Mistry, Screenplay by Sooni Taraporevala Genie nomination, Best Screenplay, The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television,1999.
  
1999: Dr.Babsaheb Ambedkar: Feature: Directed by Jabbar Patel, Screenplay by Sooni Taraporevala, Arun Sadhu, Daya Pawar
  
1998: My Own Country: Feature: Directed by Mira Nair, Based on the book by Dr.Abraham Verghese, Screenplay by Jim Leonard Jr. and Sooni Taraporevala
Shine nomination, Los Angeles, 1999.
  
1991: Mississippi Masala: Feature: Directed by Mira Nair, Written by Sooni Taraporevala.
Osella Award, Best Story & Screenplay, Venice Film Festival, Italy, 1991.
  
1988: Salaam Bombay! : Feature: Directed by Mira Nair, Story by Mira Nair and Sooni Taraporevala, Screenplay by Sooni Taraporevala Lillian Gish Award, Excellence in Film, Women in Film, Los Angeles, 1988.