Directed by: Aamir Khan
Starring: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan
Ishaan Awasthi keeps getting into trouble all the time; with teachers, with neighbours, with parents… Little do they know that Ishaan is suffering from dyslexia. He is sent to a boarding school as a punishment. But there, he meets Ram, his drawing teacher, who recognizes his problem and helps him overcome it.
Words cannot do justice to the beauty of this film. It’s the directorial debut of Aamir Khan and he has proved himself to be a master story-teller. It is so touching and so real that it made me cry several times. Darshan Safary, who plays Ishaan, is superb. He plays his role with a lot of maturity, never acting precocious like most kids in Hindi film do. The fact that Aamir has let him carry the first half completely on his shoulders is proof enough of his talent.
Taare Zameen Par is a film that needs to be watched not only because it is a story very well told but also for the message that it gives out (without being preachy, condescending or too verbose): Every child is special.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Le Péril Jeune (Good old daze)
Directed by : Cédric Klapisch
Starring : Romain Duris, Vincent Elbaz, etc.
This film was actually made for a TV channel called Arte by the youth-oriented films specialist Cedric Klapisch. This is also the debut film of Romain Duris, one of the top actors of French cinema today.
The film begins with four old friends sitting in a hospital lobby waiting for the birth of their friend Tomasi’s child. Tomasi is dead from a drug overdose. The friends reminisce about the good old days at ‘lycée’ (the French equivalent of high school I guess) – the girls, the secret crushes, professors and finally, drugs.
Duris, who plays Tomasi, in his very first role, reveals himself to be a natural. In fact, the whole film is so realistic that it brings back the bittersweet memories of our school days.
The film is funny and poignant at the same time. The language, which is predominantly colloquial, was a little difficult to understand. But all in all, a very enjoyable film.
Starring : Romain Duris, Vincent Elbaz, etc.
This film was actually made for a TV channel called Arte by the youth-oriented films specialist Cedric Klapisch. This is also the debut film of Romain Duris, one of the top actors of French cinema today.
The film begins with four old friends sitting in a hospital lobby waiting for the birth of their friend Tomasi’s child. Tomasi is dead from a drug overdose. The friends reminisce about the good old days at ‘lycée’ (the French equivalent of high school I guess) – the girls, the secret crushes, professors and finally, drugs.
Duris, who plays Tomasi, in his very first role, reveals himself to be a natural. In fact, the whole film is so realistic that it brings back the bittersweet memories of our school days.
The film is funny and poignant at the same time. The language, which is predominantly colloquial, was a little difficult to understand. But all in all, a very enjoyable film.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Director: Alain Resnais
Starring: Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada
A beautiful black and white film considered to be in the league of Citizen Kane. It is a love story set against the backdrop of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blasts.
“Hiroshima Mon Amour” is the story of an actress who comes to Hiroshima to shoot a film about peace. There she spends the night with a Japanese man and begins to fall for him. Since both of them are married and live on different continents their love story is destined to fail. It reminds her of her tragic and devastating affair with a German soldier during the occupation of France.
Marguerite Duras, who has written the script, skilfully links the story of the actress with that of Hiroshima. The heroine haunted by her tragic past shall learn to let go of it in the city which was burned to ashes but still moved on.
This film is considered to be one of the first modern films. As one might guess, it is not easy to follow. The documentary that is given as a bonus on the DVD is of great help in understanding the undercurrents of the film and analysing it.
A thought-provoking film, serious but worth watching.
Starring: Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada
A beautiful black and white film considered to be in the league of Citizen Kane. It is a love story set against the backdrop of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blasts.
“Hiroshima Mon Amour” is the story of an actress who comes to Hiroshima to shoot a film about peace. There she spends the night with a Japanese man and begins to fall for him. Since both of them are married and live on different continents their love story is destined to fail. It reminds her of her tragic and devastating affair with a German soldier during the occupation of France.
Marguerite Duras, who has written the script, skilfully links the story of the actress with that of Hiroshima. The heroine haunted by her tragic past shall learn to let go of it in the city which was burned to ashes but still moved on.
This film is considered to be one of the first modern films. As one might guess, it is not easy to follow. The documentary that is given as a bonus on the DVD is of great help in understanding the undercurrents of the film and analysing it.
A thought-provoking film, serious but worth watching.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Les Enfants du Paradis (French)
Director : Marcel Carné
Written by : Jacques Prévert
Starring : Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, Pierre Renoir
I came across this film, considered to be the best French films ever made, in the Alliance Française library. Often, I cannot appreciate black and white films due to the theatrical acting prevalent in those days. But since this film is presented as a play (it is shown in two acts/parts and the curtain rises and falls at the beginning and the end), I quite enjoyed it this time. My only disappointment was the actress who played the central character: she looked a little too old for her role, was too passive throughout and did not look as beautiful and enchanting as she ought to have.
The film is about Garance, a small-time actress and a courtesan, and the four men who fall in love with her – Lacenaire, a criminal, Baptiste, a mime-artist, Edouard de Montray, an aristocrat and Frédéric Lemaitre, an actor. Each of them loves Garance in their own way and this forms the crux of the film. Baptiste’s love for Garance is pure and sublime, but he expects a similar affection from her. Frédéric is a Casanova. But his love for Garance (which seems frivolous in the first part) leads him to experience ‘jealousy’, an emotion he had never known before. Lacenaire prides himself on his cold heartedness, but his love for Garance makes him commit a grave crime. De Montray tries to buy Garance’s love with expensive gifts. She does become his mistress but never reciprocates his love. Garance on the other hand runs away from each of these men when she finds her freedom encroached upon. At the end however, she finds her true love but circumstances force her to run away from him again.
The beauty of the film lies in its well-defined characters and the light that it throws upon human nature. As for its name “Les enfants du paradis” can be translated as “The children of the Gods”. The Gods refers to the gallery where the working-class people sat in a theatre. They were the ones who freely appreciated the actors’ performances. It should be noted that all the characters in the film belong to the working class (except, of course De Montray).
The film was made during the German occupation of France. The lead actress Arletty had an affair with a German soldier at the time and was thus banned from acting in films later. An interesting view is that Garance represents the France under Vichy (occupied France). Lacenaire, the anti-hero/hero, represents those French who joined the Resistance movement and wanted to free France at all cost (Hence the murder at the end). Baptiste represents the French who loved their nation but could not, or did not strive to free her (hence his inability to express his love for her).
Personally, I quite enjoyed the film. For those who love classics, here is one which is hailed as the French ‘Gone with the wind’!
Written by : Jacques Prévert
Starring : Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, Pierre Renoir
I came across this film, considered to be the best French films ever made, in the Alliance Française library. Often, I cannot appreciate black and white films due to the theatrical acting prevalent in those days. But since this film is presented as a play (it is shown in two acts/parts and the curtain rises and falls at the beginning and the end), I quite enjoyed it this time. My only disappointment was the actress who played the central character: she looked a little too old for her role, was too passive throughout and did not look as beautiful and enchanting as she ought to have.
The film is about Garance, a small-time actress and a courtesan, and the four men who fall in love with her – Lacenaire, a criminal, Baptiste, a mime-artist, Edouard de Montray, an aristocrat and Frédéric Lemaitre, an actor. Each of them loves Garance in their own way and this forms the crux of the film. Baptiste’s love for Garance is pure and sublime, but he expects a similar affection from her. Frédéric is a Casanova. But his love for Garance (which seems frivolous in the first part) leads him to experience ‘jealousy’, an emotion he had never known before. Lacenaire prides himself on his cold heartedness, but his love for Garance makes him commit a grave crime. De Montray tries to buy Garance’s love with expensive gifts. She does become his mistress but never reciprocates his love. Garance on the other hand runs away from each of these men when she finds her freedom encroached upon. At the end however, she finds her true love but circumstances force her to run away from him again.
The beauty of the film lies in its well-defined characters and the light that it throws upon human nature. As for its name “Les enfants du paradis” can be translated as “The children of the Gods”. The Gods refers to the gallery where the working-class people sat in a theatre. They were the ones who freely appreciated the actors’ performances. It should be noted that all the characters in the film belong to the working class (except, of course De Montray).
The film was made during the German occupation of France. The lead actress Arletty had an affair with a German soldier at the time and was thus banned from acting in films later. An interesting view is that Garance represents the France under Vichy (occupied France). Lacenaire, the anti-hero/hero, represents those French who joined the Resistance movement and wanted to free France at all cost (Hence the murder at the end). Baptiste represents the French who loved their nation but could not, or did not strive to free her (hence his inability to express his love for her).
Personally, I quite enjoyed the film. For those who love classics, here is one which is hailed as the French ‘Gone with the wind’!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Aja Nach Le
Starring: Madhuri Dixit, Kunal Kapoor, Konkona Sen, etc. etc.
The film is really not as bad as the reviews said. It's about a dancer (Madhuri Dixit) who returns after several years to her vilage to save the dance school from being mowed down. Madhuri is good as usual. Konkona Sen and Kunal Kapoor:) are loveable. The songs should have been better since this is almost a musical. I liked the choreography too, even though it was trashed in the reviews.
Overall, a good timepass film.
The film is really not as bad as the reviews said. It's about a dancer (Madhuri Dixit) who returns after several years to her vilage to save the dance school from being mowed down. Madhuri is good as usual. Konkona Sen and Kunal Kapoor:) are loveable. The songs should have been better since this is almost a musical. I liked the choreography too, even though it was trashed in the reviews.
Overall, a good timepass film.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Some other films I saw...
A Mighty Heart - Starring: Angelina Joli; Director: Michael Winterbottom. A beautifully made film, almost like a documentary. Will appeal only to those who like serious cinema.
Subway - Starring: Christophe Lambert, Isabelle Adjani; Director: Luc Besson. Quite dissappointing. And sigh! Jean Reno has only a tiny role.
Jab we met - Starring: Kareena Kapoor, Shahi Kapoor; Director: I forget who. A nice, likeable film. A typical Bollywood fare but still refreshing.
Crimson Rivers (Rivières Pourpres) - Starring: Jean Reno, Vincent Cassel. Director: Matthieu Kassovitz. Star Movies showed the dubbed version which I absolutely hate. A wierd film, not easy to follow. Did not care much for it.
The Pink Panther - Starring: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Beyonce, Emily Mortimer. Director: God knows who. Full of slapstick and cheap jokes (farting, etc.) Steve Martin speaks in a bizarre French accent. As do all the other characters except dear old Jean, as he is actually French... The dance sequence is, to say the least, disgusting. (Jean, you didn't have to do that!)
The Devil wears Prada - Starring: Anne Hathway, Meryl Streep. Director: Dunno. Not bad at all, though Hathway is insipid and gives an uninspired performance. Meryl Streep, on the other hand, is simply outstanding. Wish she had more time onscreen. Haven't read the book so can't say if the movie is loyal to it.
Subway - Starring: Christophe Lambert, Isabelle Adjani; Director: Luc Besson. Quite dissappointing. And sigh! Jean Reno has only a tiny role.
Jab we met - Starring: Kareena Kapoor, Shahi Kapoor; Director: I forget who. A nice, likeable film. A typical Bollywood fare but still refreshing.
Crimson Rivers (Rivières Pourpres) - Starring: Jean Reno, Vincent Cassel. Director: Matthieu Kassovitz. Star Movies showed the dubbed version which I absolutely hate. A wierd film, not easy to follow. Did not care much for it.
The Pink Panther - Starring: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Beyonce, Emily Mortimer. Director: God knows who. Full of slapstick and cheap jokes (farting, etc.) Steve Martin speaks in a bizarre French accent. As do all the other characters except dear old Jean, as he is actually French... The dance sequence is, to say the least, disgusting. (Jean, you didn't have to do that!)
The Devil wears Prada - Starring: Anne Hathway, Meryl Streep. Director: Dunno. Not bad at all, though Hathway is insipid and gives an uninspired performance. Meryl Streep, on the other hand, is simply outstanding. Wish she had more time onscreen. Haven't read the book so can't say if the movie is loyal to it.
The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
About the author: Born in Afghanistan, received political asylum in the U.S.A. in 1980, doctor by profession. This is his first book.
It’s not very often that you come across a book like this. A book that can keep you riveted throughout. A book that touches your heart deeply; that stays, long after you have finished it. Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” is at times like a song: gentle and nostalgic, bringing back memories of childhood, sometimes insouciant and sometimes cruel. At times it is like a vividly coloured photograph: the streets of Kabul come alive before your eyes, kites fight each other for dominance and kebab shops line the bustling streets. At times it is heartbreakingly close to reality: the war-ravaged, Taliban-infested Afghanistan; a man selling his artificial leg; an execution held on a football field during the half-time.
This story of damnation and redemption is told through the eyes of Amir. Amir longs for the love and affection of his somewhat indifferent father, who he admires and fears the most. He believes that the indifference stems from the fact that Amir’s mother died giving birth to him. Furthermore, he thinks himself to be a failure in his father’s eyes, a wimp and a coward.
However, his father seems to have a special affection for Hussain, their servant’s son. Hussain is strong and courageous, protecting Amir and loving him with unflinching loyalty.
But one day, to gain his father’s love and admiration, Amir selfishly and cowardly betrays Hussain, thus condemning himself to a life full of lies and regrets. It is only after several years that Amir gets the opportunity to redeem himself. And so he sets off on a dangerous journey to Afghanistan, a journey that will liberate him from his demons and make a man out of him.
Though the novel is engaging throughout, I was particularly moved by the part about their childhood. Hosseini describes the unusual relationship between Amir and Hussain with brutal honesty. Amir loves Hussain as a friend (even as a brother) but cannot ignore the fact that Hussain is a servant, a Hazara, a Shia while he, is the master, a Pashtun and a Sunni. Children can be cruel and so Amir continually tests Hussain’s loyalty (“Would you eat dirt if I asked you to?”), makes fun of his illiteracy and makes him party to his pranks. Hussain, pure of heart and blessed with an ability to understand people, never protests. His self-sacrificing and unconditional love is heartrending. For you, a thousand times, he says to Amir. A phrase that torments Amir for life and echoes throughout the book. A phrase that brings the story of Amir and Hussain a full circle.
This is Khaled Hosseini’s first book. A brilliant raconteur, he is someone to reckon with. His second book, A Thousand Splendid Suns is already a best-seller. His style of writing is very visual (as I said earlier, like a photograph) and so I think it could make a great film.
This book is special for another reason too. It talks of a country which is in news all the time but of which we know little. It talks of Afghanistan, its long-suffering but proud people and its once beautiful cities razed to the ground.
Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” is a must read. Finally, here is one book that really deserves its ‘best-seller’ status.
About the author: Born in Afghanistan, received political asylum in the U.S.A. in 1980, doctor by profession. This is his first book.
It’s not very often that you come across a book like this. A book that can keep you riveted throughout. A book that touches your heart deeply; that stays, long after you have finished it. Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” is at times like a song: gentle and nostalgic, bringing back memories of childhood, sometimes insouciant and sometimes cruel. At times it is like a vividly coloured photograph: the streets of Kabul come alive before your eyes, kites fight each other for dominance and kebab shops line the bustling streets. At times it is heartbreakingly close to reality: the war-ravaged, Taliban-infested Afghanistan; a man selling his artificial leg; an execution held on a football field during the half-time.
This story of damnation and redemption is told through the eyes of Amir. Amir longs for the love and affection of his somewhat indifferent father, who he admires and fears the most. He believes that the indifference stems from the fact that Amir’s mother died giving birth to him. Furthermore, he thinks himself to be a failure in his father’s eyes, a wimp and a coward.
However, his father seems to have a special affection for Hussain, their servant’s son. Hussain is strong and courageous, protecting Amir and loving him with unflinching loyalty.
But one day, to gain his father’s love and admiration, Amir selfishly and cowardly betrays Hussain, thus condemning himself to a life full of lies and regrets. It is only after several years that Amir gets the opportunity to redeem himself. And so he sets off on a dangerous journey to Afghanistan, a journey that will liberate him from his demons and make a man out of him.
Though the novel is engaging throughout, I was particularly moved by the part about their childhood. Hosseini describes the unusual relationship between Amir and Hussain with brutal honesty. Amir loves Hussain as a friend (even as a brother) but cannot ignore the fact that Hussain is a servant, a Hazara, a Shia while he, is the master, a Pashtun and a Sunni. Children can be cruel and so Amir continually tests Hussain’s loyalty (“Would you eat dirt if I asked you to?”), makes fun of his illiteracy and makes him party to his pranks. Hussain, pure of heart and blessed with an ability to understand people, never protests. His self-sacrificing and unconditional love is heartrending. For you, a thousand times, he says to Amir. A phrase that torments Amir for life and echoes throughout the book. A phrase that brings the story of Amir and Hussain a full circle.
This is Khaled Hosseini’s first book. A brilliant raconteur, he is someone to reckon with. His second book, A Thousand Splendid Suns is already a best-seller. His style of writing is very visual (as I said earlier, like a photograph) and so I think it could make a great film.
This book is special for another reason too. It talks of a country which is in news all the time but of which we know little. It talks of Afghanistan, its long-suffering but proud people and its once beautiful cities razed to the ground.
Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” is a must read. Finally, here is one book that really deserves its ‘best-seller’ status.
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