MAMI 2013: Day 4

It can get difficult to write about the films you see right after you walked out of the hall. I'm sleepy right now. I'm always sleepy after a succession of movie-watching. So I guess I'll keep it brief for the coming days since I'll be watching the night shows and stumbling home soon after.

•         Killer Toon:

It was the plot of the Korean film (directed by Yong-gyun Kim) that got my attention (and maybe also the slightly ridiculous title). The editor-in-chief of a horror webcomics organisation is murdered. Cartoonist Kang Ji-yun is the prime suspect since anybody she sketches seems to die in the exact same way. So what's happening here?

I did not know this was a horror film. If I did, I'd probably avoid it like the plague. But yes, Killer Toon's a horror-thriller and not a very smart one. It relies heavily on the gimmickry of sound effects and make-up blood to bring in the chills. That could work for suckers like me, but for the more seasoned veterans, this one will probably just be a drag.

There are a few suspenseful chase sequences in the film which are the highpoints but the final resolution is so unconvincing, you cease to care.

But to watch it just for the fun of it (it won't get all that boring), Killer Toon's being repeated on 23rd October at Cinemax, Screen 3 at 6 pm. Do confirm and book.

•          Miss and the Doctors:

Axelle Ropert's French romcom's about the wedge that drives two brothers apart after they fall for the same woman. Nothing remarkable. Not all that romantic. Pretty boring. Not sure if it's getting repeated, though.

•          Brahmin Bulls:

Mahesh Pailoor's film stars Roshan Seth and Sendhil Ramamurthy as a dysfunctional father-son duo who have a strained bond after the former had a discretion of the extramarital variety. It is tested further when the widowed man comes to visit his son whilst also trying to meet the love of his life at a conference in Los Angeles. One of my acquaintances considers it the most refreshing film he saw all day. I found it dull, though some moments and performances were top-notch.

There are no further repeats for this film.

MAMI 2013: Day 3

Monday, 21st October was my third day at MAMI. Gave the Sunday screenings a miss because I was so tired. I had intended to watch 60 going on 12 and Giraffada. There is no repeat screening for either of them. But do double check.

I intended to see five films today. Could only make it to 4. Or rather, 4 1/4.

• Short Term 12:

I had a choice between this and a Mexican film called Heli. While the latter was about the downward spiral of protagonists into the hellish world of drugs and violence, the former was set in a foster care facility. And I'm always a sucker for uplifting cinema. Plus, I'd read a largely favourable response for this one.

I wasn't expecting much to begin with, but did not find satisfaction in the final outcome. 

Destin Cretton's Short Term 12 follows Grace (Brie Larson from 21 Jump Street), a worker at the foster care, who is very good at what she does. There's a dark past that still hangs around her neck like an albatross, but her co-worker and boyfriend Mason (John Gallagher Jr. aka Jim Harper from The Newsroom) is supportive all the way.

She begins to share her past with the newest entrant (inmate?), a troubled teenager named Jayden. Their uneasy bond is their road to salvation. The drama has its moments, which is why I can't dismiss this right away. But it's not making it on my recommendation list because of its languid pace and some non-inspiring conversations between characters. (How convenient is it that Grace and wild-child Jayden connect on the exact same trauma and ticks?)

Maybe I was expecting a more mainstream mood-elevator and didn't realise it. Still, after today there will be no repeat screenings of this film.

• Bekas:

Karzan Kader's Bekas was not my first choice for an afternoon watch. What I really wanted to see was Blue Is The Warmest Color, which was running to packed houses. Instead, I had to settle for a story of two Iraqi boys wanting to escape the Saddam Hussain regime by going to America and meeting Superman. Sounds ironic? Sad? Replete with irony?

Bekas is all this and also manages to be predominantly uplifting. Brothers Zana (Zamand Taha) and Dana (Sarwar Fazil) want to wing it to America (which they believe is a city shaped as Europe while they reside in 'Africa'!) so that Superman can fly back with them and avenge the death of their parents, possibly killed by Saddam's soldiers.

So while it is on the face of it the journey of two boys across the unforgiving topography, it is also a bigger comment on the ensuing military rule happening in the background. That's easy to spot.

Kader has the remarkable ability to take you to the brink of despair and pull you right back towards a deeply satisfying conclusion.

This film is recommended viewing, though will sadly not be screened again at the fest.

• Keeper of Lost Causes:

Mikkel Norgaard's film is apparently based on a book, something I gathered with a little reading online. I'd never seen a Danish film (not to my recollection anyway) and did not know what to expect from the thriller. But rest assured, I think it's probably the best film I've seen all day (alongside Bekas, of course).

Chief detective Carl Morck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is assigned to Department Q of the police department after a mission gone fatally wrong. The caustic cop is now relegated to a desk with an assistant named Assad (Fares Fares), where he is supposed to go over closed cases and sort them accordingly. The disappearance of politician Merete Lynggaard (Sonja Rochter) grabs his attention.

A beautiful woman. Disappeared from a passenger boat. Her brain-damaged brother Uffe (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) was hysterical at the scene of the disappearance. What's happening?

Many may not find the noir thriller earth-shattering. Nor do I, truth be told. I could see how the climax would shape up. But it is still something I would heavily recommend. Do NOT miss. It's one of the most engrossing films I've seen in the festival so far.

• For Those In Peril:

Oh Lord, I can't believe I missed Sulemani Keeda for this. SK was running to a packed house, so I decided to settle for this disaster movie. And I mean that literally. There is nothing I found worth writing home about. No clue what trip director Paul Wright was on while filming this. There were numerous walk-outs during this screening and I happened to be one of them. Damn! Really did want to see five films. This was the 1/4 I did see. And immensely regret.

It will be repeated on 22nd October, Tuesday at Metro, Screen 5 at 3:30 pm. Watch at your own risk.

• A Castle In Italy:

Aaaaaaaaaaah! As if my mood wasn't crabby enough with the above film. I had a choice between the much acclaimed Gloria and this one. And I chose ACIT, because there's a castle. In Italy. With romance. What could go wrong, right? RIGHT? Wrong. So wrong. *shoots self*

There's a former actress with a younger actor pursuing her. Actress' castle has to be given out for rent because her family is debt-ridden.You'd think this was the plot but then there are such annoying, unnecessary plot tangents, you stop caring.

Writer-director Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi is the leading lady of the film. The limelight's on her, so other characters and the semblance of a plot take a major beating.

The film will be repeated at Cinemax, Screen 1 on 23rd October at 6 pm. But just confirm that, if poss.

Until next time, folks. Take care.

MAMI 2013: Day 2

Four films in a day. This is probably a first for me, says my father. He may be right. If there have been any prior instances, they elude me. Keep reading if you're interested in knowing which four films I managed to watch today.

•      Good to Go:

Ivan (Evgen Car, so endearing) is not a happy man. One could say that a lot of his misery is self-imposed. "All my life is in these boxes," says Ivan to his brother Vinka (Ivo Ban), though here I might be paraphrasing just a little bit, as he packs up his belongings to move into an old age home. "It wasn't a very interesting one either," retorts Vinka.

Ivan's life may not have been so, but the home he leaves behind is of great interest to his icy daughter-in-law Polona (Janja Majzelj, reminiscent of Cruella de Vil according to a friend) who wants to make more than a few major alterations to it upon his departure, while his son Marko (Vladimir Vlaskalic) looks on. The only person who can soften the scowl creasing his face, forehead to jowls, is Ivan's granddaughter Brina (Juta Kremzar).

The doting grandfather spares his smile for none else, not even the residents of the retirement home. Just when it sounds like the old timer could do with a little 'Carpe Diem' in his limited lifespan; he begins to enjoy the company of fellow resident Melita (a lovely Milena Zupancic).

There are other old men, with their little pranks, nuances and humourous touches who add life to Ivan's life and to what could otherwise have been a meandering film. Watch out for the scenes that include their computer classes, card games, an aerobics class in the pool and a planned getaway from the home for a music concert.

My friend with me found the Matevz Luzar-directed film slow and would only want to give it three stars. I don't know about rating, but I know that this is something I would everyone if I could get my hands on it.

This Slovenia-Croatia beauty will be screened again on 23rd October at Cinemax, Versova – Screen 1 at 12:30 pm.

Please don't miss it.

•      Before Midnight:

Okay, I'd be lying if I said I saw Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Yes, I heard those collective gasps, but I did know the plot lines for both the films and figured this one would be a bit stand-alone in itself. There are a lot of references to the prequels, which would be better appreciated by those who saw them.

I'm not saying I disliked the film. In fact, the long shots of endless discussion made for quite a class act. It is so difficult to maintain a consistent chemistry on camera but Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke pull off the mature, married couple with élan. Fans of the series would love to see the duo age and evolve. Others may not take too kindly to their domestic quarrels.

For those who haven't seen the previous films, this one's about conversations. No major plot. Just simple, thought-provoking conversations as if you were only sitting next to them. I enjoyed the ride while it lasted, but felt a sense of incompleteness when the end credits rolled. It's a film that could or could not work for a lot of people.

I'd wave a green flag for this. Not too enthusiastically, but just for some lovely nuggets of conversation before the characters get whiney.

If interested, the film will be screened on 23rd October at Liberty cinema, Marine Lines at 5:30 pm. No, it isn't a multiplex.

•       Liar's Dice:

The only reason I attended the screening of writer-director Geeta Mohandas' film was for Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It's the story about an anxious wife (Geetanjali Thappa) and her little daughter (Manya Gupta) from the mountainous Chitkul village embarking on a perilous journey to find her husband, their pet goat in tow.

Nawazuddin plays an army deserter who decides to tag along, since it isn't a safe world for women. Least of all if her itinerary includes Delhi as the end point for her search.

I tried to keep an open mind about the film, but after a point it began to drag. The climax, when it comes, gets a little confusing. The dots aren't connected all that well and the ensuing hysteria, though effective, is grating. Not something I would recommend, but if you're a Nawazuddin fan, go for it.

I don't want to completely run down an entire team's effort to shoot over vastly differing terrain, so I give full marks to the makers for capturing the essence of a harried commute through the mountains with the shaky cam. However, it does get excessive in the second half.

I'm not sure if there are repeats for the film. At least I could not find any after this. This was probably the second and last screening.

•          Don Jon:

The much-awaited Don Jon was filled to capacity in Cinemax, Versova today. Yours truly was one of the fortunate few who managed to reserve her seat in time. It was the hype, more than anything else that drew me in. Written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Golly!

Or not.

JGL plays Jon Martello, a bartender who seems to possess remarkable powers of seduction over the women who groove at the club, though nothing about his character really comes across as smooth and charming. Anyway, he plays the game, beds the woman but can't really get his rocks off with physical intimacy. He needs to watch porn for that.

So yes, explicit porno footage ahead, though not blatantly graphic.

Enter Scarlett Johansson, whom Jon decides he is ardently in love with because she did not yield to his sleazy manliness. At least that's how it looks. The question is… is this something that will last?

Honestly, considering it was a JGL film, I expected it to be smarter, especially with dialogue. It has the cool quotient down with the editing and a recurring background score every time our hero feels the need to surf the nasty online. But somehow, it lacks the punch, the character development and a decent enough conclusion to really do it for me. Shame, considering the film started out so well.

But don't look disappointed. If you still have your heart set out on Don Jon, you can catch it on 24th October at Metro (Marine Lines), Screen 5 at 6 pm.<

MAMI 2013: Day 1

I know I've been really sporadic on social networking sites, but I am itching for a change. It's been a very exciting turn of events lately, but the most exciting of all is MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image) aka the Mumbai Film Festival, which is happening right now.

Many of you may know the general plot layout of the films mentioned (or those which will be mentioned) if you have the delegate kit, but I am elaborating for the benefit of those who do not have one yet.

Being a bit of a film buff (though not a film nerd just yet), I've decided to share brief notes on the films I've been watching. Technically, the fest began yesterday, but they were showing The Butler all the way in Liberty at 7 pm. I wasn't too inclined for an evening dash, but here's what I managed to see on the official day 2, which is my Day 1.

Remember... it's never too late to make a MAMI Delegate Pass and watch these films ( http://register.mumbaifilmfest.org/) .

• Sunlight, Moonlight, Earth (Aftab, Mahtab, Zamin) (Iranian):

Ali Ghavitan's endearing take on the friendship between Sheikh, an elderly village cleric and the seven-year-old Narges makes for patient viewing. The scenes are just languid as characters amble from one end of the screen to the other in a long take. Sunlight, Moonlight, Earth is more than just about the relationship between an old man and a child. The former is stooped over, not just with age but with the weight of an inheritance he did not ask for. Said inheritance is 50 acres of a land in a village where the workers toil under the crackling sunlight.

Sheikh is reluctant to reveal the true purpose of his visit and the villagers are naturally suspicious of the bearded stranger. Can his piety and gentle ways win them over? How far will an envious Malek go in raising hostility against the older man?

Sunlight, Moonlight, Earth is not for everyone. I walked away, not disappointed (satisfied to an extent), but not something  I would not include in a must-see list. It is a sweet, simple film, although a few people in the screen with me did rave about it later. If you find a slot where you can fit this film in, go for it. Give the film time to unravel.

The film will be repeated on 20th October (Sunday) at Cinemax, Versova - Screen 5 at 12:30 pm.

• Qissa (Punjabi film, stars Irrfan Khan, Tisca Chopra):

Anup Singh's Qissa deals with the question of identity within a Sikh family residing in post-Partition India, but not in the way one would imagine. The film deals not with the national identity of the displaced citizens, but with distraught father Umber Singh's (Irrfan Khan) 'qissa' (tale) of gender identity.

Weakened by his unfortunate circumstances and saddled with the responsibility of three daughters, he now yearns for a son. Despite his wife's (Tisca Chopra) much-resented hattrick in giving him daughters, Umber (can't remember his character's name) hopes to be fourth time lucky. Doesn't happen. The fourth child is a daughter, but the father in a twist of shocking obstinacy raises her to be a son named Kanwar (played by Tillotama Shome when s/he grows).

Yes, the film touches upon the delicate topic of menstruation which Umber tries to cover up, the wrestling classes and the hunting sessions to make a man out of a woman. Kanwar dresses, walks and talks the part. And even takes the big leap by marrying a gypsy girl, Neeli (Rasika Duggal) when it becomes a matter of family honour.

There are some logical loopholes in the film like:

- The submissive mother who let her daughter's sexual identity get taken apart

- Whether her sisters knew about her real gender

- The ending (I had my own interpretation, but many around me were baffled)

Qissa takes you on the ride which is akin to thinking you're going to Elephanta Caves but land up, instead, at a surreal island (a la Life of Pi) in the middle of the sea. The analogy may not make much sense, but I am merely trying to illustrate the difference between the major chunk of the film and the climactic turn.

But that does not mean that the film should be given a miss. In fact, I highly recommend it. The shot compositions are beautiful, the performances remarkably restrained. Night sequences can be a dreadful challenge to shoot, but this film (at least for me) gave me the essence of a moonlit night in a quaint little village.

The hall was jam-packed for this film. For those who missed it, the film will be repeated on 19th October (Saturday) at Cinemax, Versova - Screen 4 at 3:15 pm.

• Jadoo:

If there's any film that's made me hungrier than The Lunchbox, it's this one. Amit Gupta's delightful Jadoo is hands-down my pick of the day. Two brothers who jointly ran the Chandana restaurant have a bitter squabble, which results in the family and the family recipe book being torn in half. One brother (Harish Patel) gets the starters and the other (Kulvinder Ghir) gets the main courses. When they open their rival restaurants (both called 'Chandana') across the road from each other, you can very well guess the specialty of either place.

When daughter Shalini (Amara Karan) returns to find her father and uncle feuding when they whip up a lavish Indian repast for her wedding day, she decides to fix things. And that's when the fun really begins. Also... the food porn. Ooof. Delicious.

I am glad I stayed back for this one. I was being persuaded to leave for more 'promising' films, but I am glad I stuck on. The end may be sappy and predictable for some (most happy endings have one way to go, right?) but I cannot recommend this enough. Do watch!

The film will be repeated on 19th October (Saturday) at Cinemax, Versova - Screen 2 at 5:45 pm.

If all goes well, I'll be able to watch four films instead of three tomorrow. Still hope I can upload tomorrow. I'll try to keep you guys posted. Stay tuned and be cool! Peace out!

Detox!

I regard my Facebook page with a weary eye. It's got the same posts - the clichés - recycled, re-posted and shared. Pictures of nature with italicized font on life that's supposed to make us feel better about our own.

I'm guilty of adding to the sliding news reel above the chat window. But when it's done and shared, I am tired of going through those posts again.

Why is everyone so hell-bent on figuring life out? Most of the people on my list are folks my age. Classmates, essentially. Talking about love in grand terms.

No, really. Stuff about wanting to shatter into a million pieces, melt in some imagined Lothario's arms and vaporising into air.

Eh, what?

(It would actually be pretty frickin' cool if people could do that crap)

I'm probably a blend of romantic and pragmatic (this is one of those rare moments when I admit it), with the latter trait telling me that for all the longing I've seen in young uns my age, they're either loving too intensely or getting too detached.

I find it odd that people are waiting to get hitched all their lives and when that happens, they sit together in a cow-like stupor, tapping away at their smartphones when they should be spending time with each other.

We are so busy doing so many things (and royally screwing them all up in the process) that we forgot to live in the now. The present.

I swear, two years ago my friends and I went off to Goa to attend a film festival. The four of us were (and are!) a close-knit bunch. But two in the group stuck to texting their boyfriends on the phone and took a huge chunk of the group-time by chatting endlessly with them.

What about us and our getaway? That was forgotten. I rue over the fun conversations we never had.

My friend and I were streched in our bed, watching the offending duo as they cozied up with their better halves (?!) on their hotline.

"This is so f**king stupid," said my friend.

I smiled. Considering that she herself had been out of an emotionally draining relationship, this was saying a lot.

I'd recently posted a status update on Facebook after watching a smartphone ad, where I noted that the characters in it were so engrossed with the world in their hands that they actually looked unsociable with the rest of the lot onscreen. Not to mention that fantastic sunset they missed out on, in the backdrop. The status was liked by all my friends who were probably browsing from their smartphones. And I had uploaded it from my phone, missing a few lines of a TV show in the process.

As you can see, I am not immune.

But admission is the first step to improvement. I keep my phone away during family time... or any time when I have physical company. Whether I like them or not, courtesy (and they) demands an acknowledgement and an attempt at conversation for the given time period. We need better conversation skills. Playing the PS3 together seems the only bonding point for a lot of people.

I'm actually ranting about all this from my phone. But again, in my defence, I'm all alone in my room, left to my devices. If anyone should walk in for a chat, I will be there to give a listening ear.

My whole point of the post is that you need to detox from the lure of technology. Gossip, research and porn can wait now and then.

You won't learn from life through a few nature posts. You need to go out and seize the day. If you're still reading this ramble, I thank you with all gratitude.

Now all you need to do is walk away slowly, wear a pair of sneakers and go for a walk.

Don't stop, don't talk, don't think.

Just walk.

Maybe ditch those earphones while you're at it.