‘An Apple Tree Inside the Head’ finds a new life through photographs

When filmmaker Mohammad Fazle Rabby Mridha’s “An Apple Tree Inside the Head” could not find an easy path towards a conventional release in Bangladesh, the team behind the unreleased film turned to another medium — photography.

A photography exhibition based on the film opened at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, on September 15, presenting cinematic stills and moments captured during the making of the film.

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“For us, the exhibition became an alternative way to share the film’s ideas directly with audiences,” said producer Arifur Rahman, referring to the challenges surrounding a traditional release due to regulatory restrictions and censorship concerns.

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Photo: Abrar Faiyaz Niloy

Rahman said cinema should reach audiences beyond conventional routes. Through the exhibition, the team hopes to introduce viewers to the film’s world through photographs and give the project a different form of life.

The exhibition, organised by Goopy Bagha Productions Limited and Views & Vision Production, features photographs that capture the film’s characters, landscapes, gestures and visual atmosphere without revealing the entire narrative.

Written and directed by Rabby, whose debut feature “No Ground Beneath the Feet” received international recognition, “An Apple Tree Inside the Head” draws inspiration from the enduring myths of Adam, Eve and the forbidden fruit.

Speaking at the exhibition’s opening ceremony, Jahangirnagar University anthropology professor Manosh Chowdhury highlighted the intense and dark visual language of the project. He noted that the film explores remote locations alongside complex political, economic and emotional realities.

The opening ceremony was attended by Alliance Française de Dhaka Director François Chambraud, Views & Vision Production founder Josim Ahmed, actress Jayita Mahalanobish, director Rabby and others.

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Photo: Abrar Faiyaz Niloy

The film’s production journey began around 2016, when Rabby independently shot the initial footage. Later, Arifur Rahman and producer Bijon Imtiaz joined the project, helping develop the narrative structure and complete additional filming through independent financing. The shooting process concluded around 2021 or 2022.

The film premiered internationally at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2024, but has yet to receive a release in Bangladesh.

According to Rahman, releasing the film locally remains challenging due to existing censor board regulations and the absence of an active rating system, particularly because of the film’s raw artistic imagery, including nude figures.

He said audience responses to the exhibition could influence the team’s next steps, including whether to make changes and submit the film again or preserve it as an art piece in its current form.

“A significant part of that decision now depends on the audience. We want to understand how viewers respond and what they want to experience,” he said.

The exhibition concluded on September 19 after offering audiences a glimpse into the visual world of “An Apple Tree Inside the Head” through photographs from the film’s production.