Movies and Books

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Ponmutta idunna tharavu (1988)

Language : Malayalam

Director : Sathyan Anthikad



Sreenivasan plays a goldsmith and is in love with Urvashi. Urvashi's dad (Innocent) doesn't approve of the marriage at which she suggests that Sreenivasan should gift her a gold necklace so her father can no longer disapprove. Sreenivasan puts all his life's earnings to make that grand gold necklace but then Urvashi marries a 'Gulf Malayalee' (Jayaram) as per her parents wishes. Very similar to the software bridegrooms of today J. Sreenivasan is left high and dry. But then the story comes a full circle many years later when tough times fall on Jayaram and he is forced to pawn the gold necklace, and at the local goldsmith Sreenivasan's place. Now what surprise awaits him and how it is resolved forms the rest of the story. With the resolution coming in the end when the Haji's wife comes running to save her loving husband's life. And everything comes to a standstill as no one has ever seen her before J. There are some simple touches and nuances which only Sreenivasan – Sathyan Anthikad (My favourite director in Malayalam and I would consider the equivalent of Hrishikesh Mukherjee) combination can bring to the screen. Be it Jagathy as the Oracle or Oduvil Unnikrishnan, KPAC Lalitha or Mamukoya. Every single character will remind you of someone or the other in Kerala.



The same combination has worked wonders like 'Nadodikaatu' and 'Pattana Pravesham' which culminated in 'Akkareakkareakkare' (the weakest one as this is directed by Priyadarshan) where Mohanlal and Sreenivasan two bumbling cops head for America. A format perfected way before 'Munnabhai' (with all due credit to Munnabhai). Sathyan Anthikad has also directed gems like 'Mazhavil Kaavadi' and 'Achchuvinte Amma'. Sreenivasan has written gems like 'T P Balagopalan MA', 'Vellaanagalude naadu' (a rare gem from Priyadarshan), 'Thalayanamanthram' and has also directed gems like 'Vadakkunoki yanthram' and 'Chintavishtayaya Syamala'.

Useless trivia : The role played by Sreenivasan in 'Ponmutta idunna tharavu' was first offered to Mohanlal, who turned it down as he felt the role was too insignificant, or so I gather. 'Ponmutta idunna Thattaan' was the initial title which had to be changed to 'Ponmutta idunna Tharavu' roughly translates to 'the duck that lays golden eggs' thanks to the Thattaans (Goldsmiths) going on the warpath. The Ducks accepted meekly though.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : The Seventh Seal (1957)

Language : Swedish

Director : Ingmar Bergman

'The Seventh Seal' is the story of Anthony Block (Max Von Sydow plays the role superbly), a Knight and his Squire, Jons (Gunnar Bjornstrand) who are on their way back home from their crusades. The country is in the midst of an outbreak of Black Plague. Anthony Block is being followed by Death (Bengt Ekerot who is haunting in his black cape and white face) as his time has come but Block manages to strike a deal and challenges Death to a game of chess. What a brilliant thought. "How can you outwit Death? Through a combination of Bishop and Knight". During his journey Block questions life, death, nothingness and god. He even asks the Devil and Death about God. Surely they should know. Philosophical right through. There are some absolutely striking images. And some absolute gems "If everything is imperfect in this world. Love is perfect in its imperfection" and "Why do people always torment themselves?". A must watch. Preferably more than once. Talking for myself there. I don't claim to understand all Bergman movies, certainly not at first watch ;-).



Ernst Ingmar Bergman (1918 – 2007), who passed away this week at the age of 89, is rated one of the greatest film-makers ever. Other must watch movies of Bergman include 'Wild Strawberries' (which has some amazing visuals. I remember the clock and the coffin scenes in particular), 'Fanny and Alexander' (long but engaging), 'Winter light' (brilliant), 'The Magic Flute', 'Hour of the Wolf', 'The Silence' (will comment on specifics about the last three after I have watched them), etc, etc.

         
Useless trivia : Bergman thinks Orson Welles is a hoax and an infinitely over-rated film-maker, Godard a f____ bore and Michelangelo Antonioni (who passed away on the same day as Bergman) worth watching for 'La Notte' and 'Blow up' only. He also rates Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Soderbergh quite high. Bergman claims 'Winter Light' is the only movie he made that he liked. Famously said "I hope I never get old so I get religious". His favourite movie list includes 'La Dolce Vita'.

'The Seventh Seal' is a reference from 'The book of revelation' and stemmed from Bergman's fear of death.



Book 4 d week : The Myth of Sisyphus

Author : Albert Camus


While we are on this topic, if you are upto some heavy reading pick up this one. Albert Camus' take on life, death, absurdity, suicide and god. He seems to take and interpret various explanations and points of view of Dostoievsky, Kierkegaard, Kafka and others on our questions about life, love and death. In the chapter Don Juanism he seems to ask "Why should it be essential to love rarely in order to love much?". Camus raises the fundamental question "Is life worth living?" and attempts at answering it. 'The Outsider' is another must read.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Commandante (2003)

Language : English / Spanish

Director : Oliver Stone


"If there ever was in history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any war or another, that real and really universal enemy is Yankee imperialism"-  from a Fidel Castro Ruz harangue. Oliver Stone makes a journey to, and through, Cuba to interview Fidel Castro. He takes us through over four decades under Castro since the 1959 revolution "I began a revolution with 82 men…" Wow!. He takes us through the Cuban missile crisis, the Bay of Pigs, JFK, the Iraqi war, Angola and the US' interest in it, US policies, Hubermatos, Che Guevera and the so-called controversy about Castro not supporting him when needed in Bolivia, US embargo on Cuba and very very little about his personal life which he believes is well, precisely that, personal. This movie also throws new light on our understanding of a dictator. To the inevitable question from Oliver Stone about his having replaced another dictator, Fulgencio Batista, Castro replies "Karl Marx speaks of dictatorship of the proletariat not of personal dictatorship. I am a dictator to myself and a slave to the people". Of course there is a look at how education and medicine have improved so much. And the fact that Cuba has elections at the district level where mandatories are elected directly and not through a party. Also the improved state of prostitutes and one frivolous Castro comment "even our prostitutes are graduates". A must-watch this has some rare footage of Castro and Che. And of course there is my favourite quote from Jose Marti : "All the glory in the world fits in a kernel of corn" which Castro uses to say he seeks no glory. You might not necessarily subscribe to a leftist viewpoint but there is no ignoring the inimitable Fidel Castro. And while I am writing this and letting my fingers run through my beard I can't help think "at 15 minutes a day I could save months by not shaving". J



Also by the same director  'Platoon' (the second best film on Vietnam after 'Full metal jacket'), 'Wall Street', 'Natural born killers', 'Last year in Vietnam', 'Doors' etc etc.



Other must watch movies in the revolutionary genre : 'Viva Zapata' (Marlon Brando at his best), 'Che' (you will not believe how strikingly similar to Che Omar Sharif looks. Anyone got this DVD?), 'Persona non grata'  about the Palestinian problem, by Oliver Stone again, 'The revolution will not be televised' (attaching a link to the amazing Hugo Chavez revolution http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 5689805144 about his comeback after a CIA-assisted coup almost overthrew his legally elected government), etc etc. Would love suggestions on other movies, to watch, in this genre.   


Useless trivia : The story goes that one day Fidel announced to his comrades, "We need a Governor to the Central Bank. Which one of you is a good economist?" Che immediately responded and was appointed. Later he confessed that he thought Fidel had asked for a "good communist," not a " good economist."



Also watched 'Cheeni Kum'. Well made and a good watch. The very premise of an old man (Amitabh), almost twice as old as his love interest (Tabu), and older even than her dad (Paresh Rawal) provides for some hilarious moments. Ilayaraja re-uses some of his compositions. I would think that was very avoidable simply because the original stays. Fab casting, no histrionics ;-). Don't miss this one.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Nanook of the North (1922)

Language : English

Director : Robert J Flaherty

One of the most brilliant documentaries ever I would presume. This documentary was shot first and then restaged. 'Nanook of the North' is the story of Nanook, an Eskimo, and his family which includes two wives and two sons, and one year in their lives. How the Eskimos hunt for food, fight for food, make their shelter and live their tough lives forms the movie. Eminently watchable and loveable right through it gives us an insight into the tough lives that the Eskimos lead and their everyday battle for survival and the small pleasures of family and the warmth of a cozy igloo. How quickly an igloo is built with clinical precision is one of the most memorable scenes, besides of course the hunt for an under-water / under-ice walrus using a harpoon. An absolute delight.

Also watch by the same director 'Man of Aran', 'The Land', 'The Elephant boy' starring our very own Mysore boy Dastagir Sabu, etc etc. 

Useless trivia : Nanook died of starvation months after the film-shoot was completed.

Also watched 'Chak de India'. Definitely worth a watch inspite of SRK (have liked him only in 'KHKN', 'Swades; and this). Thanx to my good friend for dragging me along. Shah Rukh Khan minus histionics and more over the simple but good storyline takes you along. For some reason I recalled Mukesh Rishi and Aamir Khan from 'Sarfarosh'. Chak de touches on the religious sentiments and does it very subtly. I sure hope the movie does it's bit for the game of Hockey too. Watch this one. You won't regret it. Definitely one of those pleasant surprises this year.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : The Blue Umbrella (2007)

Language : Hindi

Director : Vishal Bharadwaj

While there are many films passed off as children's films very few really are. Vishal Bharadwaj's 'The Blue Umbrella' aka 'Chhatri Chor' is a simple story well told, and with children in mind. It tells the story of a Blue Umbrella which symbolizes everything that is materialistic (?) in this world. Binya owns a Blue umbrella, which everyone desires to own but only she can have. And as would happen the umbrella goes missing. Is the greedy old man, Nandkishore Khatri, responsible for it?. The answer to this and a beautiful ending make up for the rest of the film. A wonderful, and colourful, adaptation to screen from the Ruskin Bond short story by the same name. Very rarely does one get some clean fun that the entire family can watch together. All kids must watch this one. I did too J. Binya (Shriya) puts in a good performance. As for Nandkishore (Pankaj Kapur) what can one say. His performance and dialogue go so well with the film. Sheer genius.



Also watch by the same director 'Maqbool'(my favourite Vishal film), 'Omkara'(one of the better films in recent times) and 'Makdee' (which I would think is a better children's film) and whatever else is coming. 'Mr. Mehta and Mrs. Singh'…     


Useless trivia :  Vishal Bharadwaj has composed music for innumerable films, some under the name Vishal, before he took to direction. Hats off to the director who has vowed to make one children's film for every adult film he makes. And has stuck to it too, so far that is. Hats off to him.

Also this would be Ruskin Bond's second story adapted to film. 'Junoon' being the first.


Book 4 d week : Ghosts of Hill Station

Author : Ruskin Bond

A collection of short stories this is a superb read. It says "For the beautiful lady who told me that she did not believe in ghosts – and then vanished!".  Not all short stories in this collection are about ghosts but each one is worth reading. Also has illustrations by Ruskin Bond favourite Mario Miranda.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Ijaazat (1987)

Language : Hindi

Director : (Sampooran Singh) Gulzar

This movie is sheer poetry. So beautifully told with brilliant use of flashback and interwoven so well with poetry. 'Ijaazat' begins with Mahender (Naseeruddin Shah) meeting Sudha (Rekha never looked better) at a Railway station. The director reveals they were married and gradually their past unfolds and in comes Maya (Anuradha Patel) who, like her name suggests, is a mystery. Mahender marries Sudha while he is still having an affair with Maya. Maya loves the relationship she is into but is not ready to be tied down in commitments. Whether Mahender is able to get Maya out of his mind and what happens to the relationship between him and Sudha forms the rest of the movie. Naseeruddin Shah as the man torn between his two loves is just amazing. And the ending to the movie gives it the title. There can't have been a better end. 'Mera kuch samaan', 'Katra katra', 'Khali haath shaam aayi hai' and 'Chhoti si kahani se' haunt you days after you have watched the movie. Gulzar - R D Burman – Asha Bhosle team works magic. As for the poetry words fail me.  "Saans lena bhi kaisi aadat hai, jiye jaana bhi kya ravaiyyat hai, bas jiye jaate hai, jiye jaate hai". Watch this one and look out for those finer nuances of a relationship in Gulzar's signature style.

Also watch by the same director 'Achanak', 'Lekin', 'Namkeen' (sanjeev Kumar changing the bulb is one scene that just comes back), 'Kinara', 'Mausam', 'Aaandhi', 'Koshish', 'Parichay', 'Libaas', 'Mirza Ghalib' (TV Serial) and many many more.

Useless trivia :  Gulzar started his career with Bimal Roy Productions as a lyricist and penned the fabulous 'Mora gora ang le le' for 'Bandini'. What a way to start ones career. He also wrote movies like 'Anand', 'Do dooni char' (which he believed was a powerful script and remade it as 'Angoor'. And what a film it was to be. "Tumhaare baaye kandhe pe til hain…" J), 'Khamoshi', 'Namak haram',  'Safar', 'Guddi' etc. His first movie as director was 'Mere Apne'. A lyricist beyond compare and a film-maker so very sensitive.

NB: Missed this while on 'ABC Africa'. I remember an ad for Africa / Uganda? which goes : We know you hate being asked for money. The next time you buy a pair of shoes do not throw away the shoe-box. At this point you see a visual of a stillborn child being put into a shoe-box. We are running short of coffins.

Just kills you this ad.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : On the Waterfront (1954)

Language : English

Director : Elia Kazan

Elia Kazan and Marlon Brando combine brilliantly in this classic. Like in 'Viva Zapata' there is no glorification, no histrionics. And minor detailing on Brando's make-up and gait say more than many words can. The cut on Terry Malloy's the ex-prize fighters right eyebrow, the understated love affair between him and his girlfriend, Edie Doyle (the beautiful and vulnerable Eva Marie Saint) and the tension between them. And how can one forget the car scene where his brother, Charlie (Rod Steiger), is trying to convince him against testifying against the gang-lord Johnny Friendly (Lee J Cobb).  The scene where Charlie pulls out a gun to convince him and Malloy replies "You are my brother Charlie. You should have looked after me a bit" just kills you.  The story is one of a gang-lord who controls the entire neighbourhood, the waterfront rather. Everyone submits to him meekly and everything is going fine until Malloy's friend, and his girlfriend's brother, is killed by Johnny. And then his brother meets with the same fate for failing to convince Malloy against testifying against Johnny. The stage is set for a confrontation. Malloy testifies against the gang-lord against all odds. There is a raw fist-fight in the end before the simple but fabulous climax. And father Barry is brilliant and probably one of those rare few films where you see a real gritty priest.



Also watch by the same director 'A Streetcar named Desire', 'Viva Zapata' (my favourite), 'East of Eden' (you can't miss James Dean in this Steinbeck classic), 'The Last Tycoon', 'Baby Doll' (anyone who can lend please do), etc etc.



Useless trivia :  The car scene where the two brothers are having a conversation was not directed but improvised on by Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger. Brando felt that he should be seen as finding it difficult to speak with a gun pointed at him by his brother. Elia Kazan allowed them to improvise.



Terry Malloy : A steady job and a couple of extra potatoes. That's all I want.

Charley : Sure that's great when you are a kid. Look at you now. You are pushing thirty and it's time you think about getting some ambition.

Terry Malloy : Oh! I thought of living a lil' bit longer without it.

And yes 'Ghulam' was based on this one. You need to see the original to figure how watered down that one is.





Watched 'Laaga chunri mein daag' since I wanted some mindless entertainment. It didn't seem like I was getting it with Mohanlal's 'Paradesi', which was a disaster. One half, the first half to be precise, of which I sat through. As for LCMD the story goes Anupam Kher and Jaya Bhaduri are two poor parents who bring up their daughters in Banaras. Jaya Bhaduri has to stitch into the night to make ends meet J. They obviously wish they had a son. Rani Mukherjee decides to be just that, a son. So she sets out to the big bad world, Mumbai, in search of a job. And she ends up sleeping with the first man she comes across so she can get a job, only to be cheated. So then she does the next best thing on the suggestion of a good friend. She becomes a high-class prostitute or an escort. All is well and her family back home in Banaras is living well of her earnings. A couple of villains and a couple of men in Rani's and Konkona's respective lives and you have a 'semicircle photograph' ending. So there. The only saving grace is that Pradeep Sarkar doesn't drag it too long and of course Banaras.

As for another Priyadarshan lift 'Bhool Bhulaiyya' I took a wise mans advice and just stayed away. "Bhool hi jao" or so he said. The Hindi audience will lap up this one too.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Lions for lambs (2007)

Language : English

Director : Robert Redford


'Lions for lambs' is three parallel stories all stemming from one incident on the warfront in Afghanisthan where two American soldiers are stranded. It opposes the military incursion by the US of A (read Bush) into various countries in the name of rebuffing the 'evil-trio', the trio being Iraq, Iran and Afghanisthan. Fabulously told by Robert Redford it has Tom cruise playing an upcoming Republican, and Meryl Streep playing an aging but principled reporter, and Robert Redford playing a professor.  Seemingly summing up the US justification for any unjustifiable action anywhere in the world the Senator says "A verifiable win in the amorphous Terror War will remind everyone that America can serve as a force for righteousness in the world." No one is spared in this one, particularly so not the media, the politicians, the military-men and the educational institutions. The movie seemingly proposes that the youth should take to, and play an active role in, social and political issues. While it doesn't go all the way and take a sure and strong stand on what it preaches, the same seems to be left to the viewer's discretion. A good watch if you are in the mood for some meaningful, dialogue-filled, even if not entirely convincing film. It is definitely left-liberal in its approach. I liked this one but I don't see too many takers.



Also watch by the same director 'The horse whisperer', 'A river runs through it', 'Quiz show' and 'Ordinary people' (my vote to this one as his best directional venture). Watch him in 'The clearing', 'The Sting', 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid', 'All the President's men', 'The great Gatsby' etc etc.



Useless trivia :  The title "Lions for Lambs," stems from an expression that German soldiers used in referring to their British counterparts during World War One. Admiring the bravery of the English infantry while condemning the idiocy of their superiors, the Germans would remark "Never before have such lions been led by such lambs." The professor uses this quote with Afghanisthan being the context and the two brave volunteers on the warfront being the lions. As for the lambs well…


Also watched 'Om Shanti om'. I am not too sure whether it a tribute to the 70s or one that is posing as one while being irreverent. Full time-pass, the usual Shah Rukh Khan, and an unusually refreshing Deepika Padukone. Watch this belle from namma Bengalooru. Maybe those who liked 'Main hoon na' will like this one too.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Naalu pennungal (2007)

Language : Malayalam

Director : Adoor Gopalakrishnan





'Naalu Pennungal' aka 'Four women' is four independent stories set in Kerala. The only common factor being that all the stories are about women, and about how one incident changes life for them. All this is set in the traditional Kerala backdrop. The four stories being the prostitute, the virgin, the housewife, and the spinster (my favourite) played by Padma Priya, Geetu Mohandas, Manju Pillai and Nandita Das respectively. Through the various characters Adoor explores men, women, their sexuality and their defined roles. Also exposes the double-standards in the society. A different set of rules for the men and a different set for the women-folk. Based on Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's (of Chemmeen fame) short story 'Nithyakanyaka', 'Kallante Makan', 'Chinnu Amma', 'Oru Niyamalanghanathinte Kadha', each one of them works as stand-alone stories as well.



Also watch by the same director 'Nizhalkoothu', 'Anantaram', 'Kodiyettam' (really enjoyed watching Gopi in this all over again), the brilliant 'Elippathayam' (my favourite), 'Kallande magan', 'Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair' (which I could watch thanks to last years IFFK), 'Kathapurushan', 'Vidheyan', 'Mathilukal', 'Mukhamukham' etc etc. Hope to watch 'Krishnattam' soon.



Useless trivia :  Adoor Gopalakrishnan graduated from FTII in script-writing and direction in the year 1965. Besides directing a host of movies he has also donned the cinematographer hat for a Velu Viswanathan film 'Ganga'.





Book 4 d week : Mathilukal

Language : Malayalam

Author : Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer



'Mathilukal' aka 'The walls' is the autobiography of Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer and tells of his days in prison. Beautifully written and brilliantly played by Mammooty in the movie by the same name. KPAC Lalitha also lends her voice and almost makes you feel her presence. Also read 'Paathummayude aadu' (Fathima's goat) and any other book by the same author. Some of his works are available as 'Basheer fictions' and 'Poovanpazham and other stories', 'Entuppaapaykkoru aanayundayirunnu' (my granddad used to own an elephant) in English. The translations lose out like my title translations have but it is better than not having read this master's work. A master of the short story format methinx.







Watched 'No Smoking'. A mish-mash of lot of styles almost like Anurag Kashyap is out to prove how good he is. Worth a watch though, coming from the director of the brilliant 'Black Friday'. Hope to hear feedback from people who have seen it. Also watched 'Sanwariya' which is one long dream sequence , or Chitrahaar as one of my friends put it. Seemed to have stemmed out of Salman Khan's complaint during 'Hum dil de chuke sanam' where he doesn't end up with the heroine. Sanjay Leela Bhansali seems to have addressed that here. Both the new faces are irritatingly 'goody goody' like those extra-good kids you would have come across in class during your school-days. Rani Mukherjee is bad. Zohra Sehgal carries off her role very well as usual. Begum Para is a surprise.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Khuda kay liye (2007)

Language : Urdu - English

Director : Shoaib Mansoor



'Khuda kay liye' (In the name of god) is the story of the plight of Muslims in the post 9/11 scenario told through the lives of two brothers who are musicians from a Pakistani Muslim family. The younger brother is being led on the wrong path, By Muslim fundamentalists, supposedly in the name of what religion preaches. The elder brother believes in modern day values based on reality and logic. The elder brother heads for America as a student of music and promptly falls in love there until everything goes wrong with 9/11 and he is arrested simply because he is a Muslim. The misinterpretation of religion and thereby the fanatics definition of what is right and what is wrong, and, what is culture and what it should be is brought out really well in the movie. The dilemma of a family and its members caught between the religious fundamentalists and the liberals / moderates is well told in this movie. The stupidity of a nation like USA and mishandling of a sensitive situation is brought out very well.



The end court scene where the Maula (brilliant cast Naseer Ud Din Shah) explains what is stated in the 'Qoran' and how it has been misinterpreted is very bold, and leads to a stunning climax. Watch the clip below and figure out for yourself how everything on music, costume etc has been misinterpreted in the name of religion. Music was gifted to David / Dawood by the gods themselves. As for costume it has nothing to do with religion but with culture. How true. "Deen mein Daadi hai, Daadi mein deen nahin".  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ5Sq0NWVOA





Thankfully for me I managed to see this movie at IFFK where Naseer was present too. A brilliant attempt, and a very progressive film from Pakistan I would say. Quoting a Pakistani - "Its a film that we can be proud of. If such films are being continuously made we will soon say bye bye to all those crappy stuff from across the border" J. Also watched 'Welcome'. Really really crappy indeed. Few jokes don't make a movie. 'Welcome' is two hours too long and the only saving grace is Nana Patekar.





Useless trivia :  Naseer Ud Din Shah initially refused the role before accepting it on reading the screenplay. Also the film was termed "Blasphemous" by the radical clerics of Pakistan. However there was no objection from the prime Islamic clerics sitting in Saudi Arabia.

[Paramvir Singh]

Movie 4 d week : Please vote for me (2007)

Language : Mandarin

Director : Weijun Chen

Please vote for me' is a documentary set in Wahun, Grade 3 primary class, China. It is a hilarious take on how democracy exists in China. A class gets it first taste of democracy for the election of its class monitor which would otherwise be the privilege of the Class teacher's favourite student. There is campaigning, sledging, show of talent and even shouting down of opponents by hired supporters. The film explores the problems faced because of the feudal system in China, the problems of Democracy and Communism, and the problems faced by parents who are not equipped to handle the single-child policy. At the end of the film you are left with questions and it doesn't necessarily leave you with the feel that Democracy is any better than Communism or vice versa. We are masters of our own choices and decisions.



You could catch it on youtube or on BBC this weekend. Don't miss this one. I hope to watch it again. Showing on BBC World on 22nd March at 0810 GMT. Repeating at 1410 and 2010 GMT and on Sunday 23rd March at 0010, 0810 and 2010 GMT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VdDDIvihM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaCGOBq6W1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhZUc8Ma0UM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX78p1WNgmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvzXGTg_Oow




Also watched Blessy's 'Calcutta News'. Just about okay after his earlier movies.

Useless trivia :  The director (and script-writer) of this film, Weijun Chen, has also made 'To live is better than to die' a film about blood donors who succumbed to HIV/AIDS in a remote village in China. Hope to watch that one too.

[Paramvir Singh]

Soske was made in 2001.  Just in case someone is using the info i wouldn't want to be the source of the error.
If it didn't make a difference please ignore.


Movie 4 d week : Soske (2001)
Language : English, French and Russian

Director : Rada Šešiċ

'SOSKE' which means 'WHY' in Gypsy language is three stories told together in brilliant three-screen image. The director, Rada Sesic, uses this format as she tells the story of three individuals : Perreira, a medical physician from Sri Lanka, Veronique, a diplomat from Burundi, and Luba, an actress from Chechnya are people in the age between 35-40, living since recently in The Netherlands. War made them flee from their respective countries. They lost their dearest ones. The story of each one of them is the same: of lost lives, of a land they no longer can go back to, of a past which exists only as a memory, and a future where they are 'labeled' and living as outsiders. There is no such thing as resettlement. No one ever recovers from a war. Being a refugee from Bosnia, Rada realized that the 'label' which one gets in life is so hard to take off. "A  political case" is what every refugee gets slotted as. But then they all want to live and contribute to the society they live in. A must watch. Will mail out when I know about the next screening.



Also watched by Rada Sesic her autobiographical, 'Room without a view', 'In Whitest solitude' and 'Way to School'. Thanks to Vimochana (lovely office I must say) it was an evening well spent. I particularly loved 'SOSKE' because it will always remain relevant to a world that never ever seems to learn.



Useless trivia :  Rada Šešiċ. Lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina before coming to Utrecht, The Netherlands (1993) during the war. She worked as a film critic and a journalist for Radio-Television Sarajevo and for the film magazine Sineast. Directed several shorts and documentaries in her home country. Specialised in South Asian cinema.  Teaches on Indian cinema (University of Amsterdam) and is a lecturer of The Dutch Institute for Film Education(NIF).  Rada has also been Assistant Director, on Vesna Ljubic's 'The Last Switchman of the Narrow Gauge Railway'. She programmes South Asian films for International Film Festival Rotterdam and is on the committee of Hubert Bals Fund, part of IFFR. As one of selectors, works on the programme of  IDFA in Amsterdam and is a committee member of IDFA's Fund Jan Vrijman since its inception. At Sarajevo Film Festival, she is the selector of the Regional Documentary Programme. In India one of the programmers of the International Film Festival of Kerala and in Romania, Bucharest at BFF the main selector of Black Sea program, as well as of the internnational Docs and Short fiction sections. Has been working as one of tutors of EDN at several workshop-pitching sessions in Europe and Asia. Guest lecturer at several Film Schools and Universities, at NFA in Amsterdam,  Anadolou University in Eskishehir, at the Film School in Geneve and at Srishti Institute in Bangalore. Rada has made Bangalore (Bengalooru she corrects me) her second home and knows more about India and Indian films than many of us do (Talking about myself there J).

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ovie 4 d week : Eros (2004)

Language : English

Director : Wong Kar Wai / Steven Soderbergh / Michelangelo Antonioni

'Eros' – Three visionary directors, one erotic journey, or so goes the tagline to this movie directed by three great directors. Each one gives us his take on love and sex. The first film, 'The Hand' by Wong Kar Wai tells the story of a high-class prostitute and a tailor. The "I became a tailor because of you" sums it all up as Mr.Zhang gives Miss. Hua the best compliment she could have ever hoped for. The second, 'Equilibrium' by Steven Soderbergh is a conversation between Alan Arkin, who plays a Psychiatrist , and Robert Downey Jr. who plays an Advertising executive both of whose lives have been thrown off gear by women. The third 'The Dangerous thread of things' by Michelangelo Antonioni is a living arrangement between a married couple and an young woman off the coast of Tuscany. They live together and have sexual relations between each other. Three short films, three different directors, three individual expressions, one common topic (read love and sex). By no means a great effort but three short films worth watching for the experiment. You won't necessarily come out of it with a 'wow' though. The DVD has Antonioni's 'Michelangelo Eye to Eye' / 'The Gaze of Michelangelo', a short 15 minute film, is definitely worth a watch for Moses if not anything else.

And for some reason while I was watching 'Eros' Kryztof Kieslowski's superb 'A short film about love' kept coming back to mind.



Also watch by Wong Kar Wai '2046', 'Chungking Express' 'In the mood for love', 'As tears go by', 'Fallen Angels', 'Happy Together', etc. Hoping to watch 'My Blueberry nights' with Norah Jones in it. Soderbergh's 'Sex, Lies and Videotape', 'Traffic', 'Solaris', Ocean's Eleven', Ocean's Twelve', 'Ocean's Thirteen', 'Kafka', 'Erin Brockovich', etc. Hope to watch 'The Good German' soon. Antonioni's 'L' Aventurra', 'La Notte' (brilliant and rated by many director's as their favourite), 'L'Eclisse', 'Zabriskie point' (watch it just for the soundtrack by Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones and others. A great movie too), 'Blow up', 'The Passenger', 'The Red desert' (much acclaimed but not among my favourites), etc.



Useless trivia : Michelangelo Antonioni passed away on 30 july, 2007 at the age of 94. Ingmar Bergman, another great director, also passed away on the very same day. Michelangelo Antonioni has also made a documentary film called 'Kumbh Mela'. Hope to access that one although reviews say at twenty minutes it is nineteen too long. I know many movies two hours too long J.

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Movie 4 d week : Mississippi burning (1988)

Language : English

Director : Alan Parker

'Mississippi burning' is one of the hard-hitting films on the theme of racism. It is set in 1964, Mississippi and tells the story of three civil rights activists killed during the height of racism and Ku Klux Klan* influence in the 60s. Two FBI agents, Alan Ward (Willem Defoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman brilliant as ever), land up in the South to investigate the disappearance of the three activists, two of who are 'white' and one 'colored'. The film sets the tone from the first scene where you see two drinking water fountains /taps, one marked 'white' and the other 'colored'. From there on it is the painful, but meticulous, investigation by two unlike partners who in their own individual ways will stop at nothing to get at the truth. Mrs. Pell (Frances McDormand), the Deputy's wife, says "Hatred isn't something you are born with. It gets taught. At school, they said that segregation was in the bible. Genesis 9, verse 27. You hear that long enough, you start to believe it" which more or less sums up the state of affairs of the time. You cannot watch this movie and come out without asking the question "Where does this hatred come from?". I wonder.

Also watched Alan Parker's 'Angel heart' with Robert De Niro and Mickey Rourke in it. Other movies by the same director worth watching are 'Fame' and 'Evita'. Hope to watch 'Angela's Ashes' and 'Midnight Express' soon.

Watch on the same theme, Ku Klux Klan, 'Birth of a nation' by D.W. Griffith, although not necessarily with the right message. On the subject of racism other must watch movies include 'American history X', 'A time to kill', 'To kill a mocking bird' (the last two are better as books), 'Schindler's list' and I would add 'Night and fog'. And of course our very own 'Diksha' and 'Dharm'.

Useless trivia : 'Pink Floyd The Wall' was shot by Alan Parker. Alan Parker was an Advertising copywriter before he became a full time film-maker. He worked for an agency called Collett Dickinson Pearce and started writing scripts in their basement. He formed a partnership and started doing Commercials before going on to features. I know some others like that J. Alan William Parker once remarked "Every time I've been to Cannes, I've made up my mind never to return. Every time my vanity wins over."

In theatres don't miss 'Khuda kay liye' which is worth watching for the last 15 minutes and Naseer, if not anything else. Also don't miss the brilliant 'The lives of others'.

* For more information on the Ku Klux Klan read on. Courtesy : Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

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Movie 4 d week : Man of Aran (1934)

Language : English
Director : Robert J Flaherty

'Man of Aran' is a documentary (docu-fiction J) on life in the Aran Islands, off the Western coast of Ireland. The film documents the daily struggle for survival and man's confrontation with nature's ire. The film includes some wonderful shots of fishing off high cliffs, hunt for soil for Potato-farming in soil-less rocky ground, and the spectacular hunt for huge Basking sharks (the second biggest fish, after the Whale shark, ranging in length from 6-12 mts). The landscape and seascape are brilliantly shot and effectively highlights the dangerous conditions in which the islander's work for survival. Slick editing coupled with brilliant cinematography and background score make this one a must watch.

Watch by the same director 'Nanook of the North', 'Elephant boy' starring our own Mysore boy, Sabu Dastagir (the first Indian to really make it into Hollywood way before Persis Khambatta was even born), of 'Jungle Book' fame. Also hope to access 'Industrial Britain', 'The Land', 'Lousiana story' and 'Moana' by the same director.

Useless trivia : As the islanders hadn't hunted for Basking sharks it was necessary for the film-makers to bring in an Inuit hunter to teach them how to hunt the traditional way. Also some of the scenes like the islanders getting caught in a gale was staged. The family members shown in the film do not belong to the same family but were so chosen for their photogenic qualities. All families in films are picture-perfect J.

Also watched 'Horton hears a Who'. Definitely worth a watch as you discover how small we are in the cosmic universe. 'U, Me aur Hum' really really bad first half, and really bad second half. It is about Alzheimer's. Watch Blessy's 'Thanmaatra' on the same theme. 'Krazzy 4' sounds too familiar and seems like another Priyadarshan lift but I gather it is Jaideep Sen this time.
Book 4 d week : Tales once told – Legends of Kerala

Authot : Abraham Erally
This book is not very well-written. Then why the recommendation eh? It's a good read if you want to get some basic info on the fables from Kerala : Kayamkulam Kochunni, Perumthachan, Arakkal Bibi, Sabarimala Ayyappan and a lot more. It is adapted from 'Ithihyamaala' and has neat illustrations by Jayachandran. Thanks to a good friend for lending me this one.