MOTHER! – BEST OF 19TH MUMBAI FILM FESTIVAL 2017!

Mother! (2017)

written by Souranath Banerjee

Mother! Review: What on earth is happening and why doesn’t God do anything to stop these talented directors from going rogue in the name of symbolism? – there goes your cryptic God-Mother Earth theory!

My Ratings: 3.5/5

Mother! is one of the most talked about film of this year with extreme reviews from both the audience and the critics, extreme positives and extreme negatives!

Then the poster says ‘The most controversial movie in decades’ and you think why are these people trying to sell a Darren Aronofsky film by just hi-lighting on its controversiality aspect? Not as a brilliant horror film, or as a superb thriller or mystery or drama – but simply as ‘most controversial’. And then you watch the film and realise that the poor marketing people didn’t have much of a choice!

The story of a woman (Jennifer Lawrence), who wants to be a mother and eventually becomes one with the help of HIM (her partner Javier Bardem).  But in between, a number of guests appear at their house, all uninvited (Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer to start with) and from there the film plunges into sheer catastrophe portrayed through a series of unimaginably horrific experiences that – let me see how to put it without giving away much details – that Mother!-Reviewtakes away all her fun of being a mother!

Now it’s difficult to merely narrate the plot of a movie like Mother! without wrapping it up into various symbolic metaphors. It is so uniquely chaotic and absurd for the real world (hopefully a caricature of the real world itself) that even while watching the film you constantly look for some allegorical inklings and eventually when you connect to the Biblical symbolisms which at certain points are pretty much on your face  – you finally feel at home and buckle up to absorb the rest of the gore and insanity!

Acting wise pretty decent performances by all, specially the supporting characters Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer are terrific! Bardem though given much less screen time makes his presence felt and Jennifer Lawrence – her naivety and helplessness somehow reflects the anxiety of the audience – it’s like ‘why is this happening to me’ and this feeling doesn’t leave you till the very end of the film!

The one thing I really appreciate is the cinematography of Matthew Libatique that creates a certain earthy Mother!-Reviewmood that is essential for the movie. The repeated close-up shots of the Mother character makes us feel what she is going through, we desperately try to relate with her inner turmoils.

I have been a big fan of director Darren Aronofsky‘s previous works – the likes of Requiem for a DreamThe WrestlerBlack Swan and Pi and they are all psychologically disturbing to certain extents but for me his latest film is a bit too deliberate an attempt to create uneasiness – it’s like forcefully pushing a certain riddle/cipher through the audience’s throat than actually trying to create quality Cinema! 

A film that you may like or dislike but certainly it will make you think and discuss and figure out what the hell did you just watch! May be Mother! was destined to be neither good nor bad but simply controversial. Fair enough!

Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com

Best Split Personality Films Ever Made (10+1list)

Best Split Personality Films ever made

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Split Personality Films: On June 11, 1990, in the U.S. State of Wisconsin, a man (29) and a woman (26) had consensual sex in the man’s car. But a few days later the man was arrested for sexual
assault! Unfortunately the woman was suffering from multiple personality disorder, she had 21 different personalities and 2 of Split-Personality-Filmsthem (personalities aged 20 and 6) did not give consent to that physical act! (The trail of Mark Peterson)

Well, there are many such unusual cases recorded of people who suffer from multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder, and are commonly known as split personalities. The person affected from such a neurosis has his/her personality dissociated into two or more distinct parts each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the other parts.

Many movies have been made to highlight this special medical condition, some based on actual cases while others are conjured out of pure fiction. Here are some other Best Split Personality Films are listed below. Have a look!

Note: I have not included the imaginary character’s world dramas/thrillers in this list, the likes of Fight Club (1999), A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), Identity (2003) and Shutter Island (2010).

10. Psycho (1960)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz719b9QUqY

As the famous quote says Split-Personality-Films‘A boy’s best friend is his mother.’

The infamous Bates motel is the residence of Mr.Norman (Anthony Perkins) and his jealous Mother and anybody who wants to get involved with them are at risk!

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, undoubtedly the most popular and thrilling split personality movie ever made!

9. Split (2016)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84TouqfIsiI

Split-Personality-FilmsThree girls are kidnapped by a man with multiple personalities, 23 different personas to be precise. And still counting!

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, one of his latest mediocre movies, though I personally think it is the acting of James McAvoy that makes the movie worth a watch.

unfortunately the movie aims more for thrills than authentically portraying  the disorder.

8. Me, Myself & Irene (2000)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssx_riw1Y9Y

Split-Personality-FilmsA funny take on a man’s extremely contrast split personalities and twisting his state of dissociative identity disorder into some hilarious comic effect.

Directed by Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly, and starring none other than Jim Carrey as two personas – the polite cop and his maniacal alter-ego!

Entertainment at its best!

7. Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase (1990)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR9o_UZ3GRg

Split-Personality-FilmsBased on true events, adopted from the autobiographical account written by Truddi Chase, in the book named When Rabbit Howls, the Troops for Truddi Chase. 

Directed by Lamont Johnson and brilliantly performed by Shelley Long, her character being haunted by the sexual and psychological abuse afflicted on her as a child by her stepfather, tends to develop multiple personalities as a kind of defence mechanism to shut down the past horrible memories.

A highly underrated TV movie that perfectly portrays the torment and suffering of a person having dissociative identity disorder.

6. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0DopZosR84

Split-Personality-FilmsA remake of the 1993 Malayalam film Manichithrathazhu.

A newly married man returns to his ancestral palace along with his wife, ignoring the various ghost stories rumored about the place. But then can there be any truth in these stories or is it the work of one disturbed mind?

Directed by Priyadarshan, a very entertaining film that intelligently delves with the split personality aspect of human mind and how to take control over it.  

5. Frankie & Alice (2010)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y10yyl_MJ4Q

Split-Personality-FilmsDirected by Geoffrey Sax, Stellan Skarsgård as the doctor and Halle Berry‘s best performance till date, portraying the character of a go-go dancer suffering from mood swings and sudden black outs which reveals to the fact that she is having multiple personalities.

An underrated film that succeeds in depicting the tragic life of a person with dissociative identity disorder with a certain degree of honesty.

4. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqqZ0yFqY04

Split-Personality-FilmsBased on the famous novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ written by Robert Louis Stevenson – this is the tale of a unique scientific experiment, a magic potion that effectively splits a person into two different personalities  – the sober and gentle Dr Jekyll  and his alter ego Mr Hyde!

Directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and performed by Fredric March who won an Oscar for his superb acting – this is one of the earliest movie that gave us a glimpse of a person suffering from split personality.

3. David and Lisa (1962)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox39j2wwhy0

Split-Personality-FilmsA love-story blooming inside a mental asylum between two teenage patients – the boy David (Keir Dullea) suffering from the fear of death while the girl Lisa (Janet Margolin) who has a split personality disorder.

Directed by Frank Perry, a brilliant film that goes deep into the psyche of such emotionally disturbed teenagers and delves in the process of medically treating them along with enough love and patience.

2. The Three Faces of Eve (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-B0_m6fW94

Split-Personality-Films‘I’m Eve’ written by Christine Costner Sizemore is the autobiographical book on which this movie is based on.

Directed by Nunnally Johnson, and performed by Joanne Woodward who won an oscar for her part playing a woman who has three prominent personalities that come out at regular intervals and each of these personas are aware of the other two! 

  1. Sybil (1976)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kPIDt3yu1M

Split-Personality-FilmsChild abuse has been the prime factor in such cases, and in an unconscious urge to block away the painful memories of childhood a person deliberately creates the other personalities. And that is exactly what happened to Shirley Ardell Mason on whose real life the novel/ movie is based on.

Directed by Daniel Petrie, and exceptionally well performed by Sally Field this mini series is the best and most authentic case study of a person suffering from multiple personality disorder. Sybil, the central character developed sixteen different personalities and was treated by a doctor named Dr. Cornelia Wilbur.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)

+1. Primal Fear (1996)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnmTi7hSjrA

Split-Personality-FilmsA priest murdered and all the evidence points to an alter-boy as the murderer but then the defense lawyer finds that the accused is suffering from multiple personality disorder!

Directed by Gregory Hoblit, this one is a superb drama with some pretty unexpected twists. Richard Gere and Laura Linney give great performances but the one to look for in this film is Edward Norton, a star was born!

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.imdb.com.

A Fantastic Woman – Best Of 19th Mumbai Film Festival 2017!

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

written by Souranath Banerjee

A Fantastic Woman Review: Love is an empty word without respect but the real question is how much disrespect can one endure for the sake of his/her love?

My Ratings: 4/5

A Fantastic Woman originally titled as Una Mujer Fantástica is a film directed by Sebastián Lelioone of the most prominent figures of the post-dictatorship Chilean cinema. And his latest is this years’s official submission from Chile at the 90th Annual Academy Awards for the Foreign Language Film Award!

The idea of a man who chooses to become a woman, to live and die as a woman and wishes to be loved and treated like one is something that often people cannot accept without a certain hint of prejudice. And this is the touching story of a trans-woman named Marina, a young night club singer who aspires in this brutal society to live her life with as much dignity as any other human being.

She is in relationship with an older man named Orlando (Francisco Reyes). They are happy and in love but again that doesn’t guarantee that their romantic liaison will be wholeheartedly accepted and/or respected by others, especially by Orlando’s direct family (his ex-wife and a prick of a son).

And thus after the sudden demise of Orlando, Marina has to go through a series of humiliating and degrading events that made her A Fantastic Womanfight for her self respect, her pride and also for the rights for her lost love.

Daniela Vega who is a trans-woman in real life played the central character in the film with surprising efficiency. Most of her inner strength is expressed through her eyes – a brave soul with immense determination and yet so emotionally vulnerable, ready to face all the odds for the one who she loved so dearly!

And very intelligent storytelling by director Sebastián Lelio as he keeps the film very real, not once opting for any overdramatic cliches and providing just enough information to keep the viewers hooked through the otherwise pretty straightforward linear script.

Certainly the best transgender drama of recent times; this is the story of a woman who doesn’t allow anybody to dictate terms in her life, a woman of integrity, bold yet compassionate, sensual yet devoted – yes, she is indeed a fantastic woman!

Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com

The Window Review

The Window (2017)

written by Souranath Banerjee

The Window Review: The eternal agony, anguish, anxiety, the angst and the apprehension of a man/writer. 

My Ratings: 3.5/5

There have been numerous fictional films about writers that have emphasised on the weird imaginative world of a penman. Many of these movies make fun of their insecurity, some romanticise and even sympathise with them for being eccentric but very few have actually managed to empathise with a writer’s passion.

The Window, a film written and directed by VK Choudhary does exactly that and tries to portray the reality of an arrogant writer’s The-Windowlife (assuming writers being arrogant is part of that reality). 

The film revolves around Lekh Kapoor (Amit Vashisth), a man who claims to be superior to his surrounding world just because he is a writer, that too a self proclaimed one!

His personal life is a mess but still he peeps out of the window inviting himself into more trouble; he cribs and vents out enough frustration throughout the movie for choosing to be the stereotypical bearded, long-haired, bidi-sucking scriptwriter on his quest to change the form of Cinema for good. But at the same time he takes immense pride in his struggle for art, for representing himself as the misunderstood talent yet to be discovered.

This low-budget film with a very Indie feel is constructed out of a series of conversation scenes (mostly indoor and handheld) between Lekh and his friends and family who eventually shell out enough information to help us perceive the obsessed writer’s persona, his complexes and fears (which are quite a handful).

The younger brother (Atul Hanwat) who urges Lekh to get a life, join the well-salaried job for which he is perfectly qualified, and to get back with his sweet, soft spoken wife. The wife (Preeti Hansraj Sharma) who cheated just once in the past that too it seems because of Lekh’s negligence but still obviously loves him, wants Lekh to excuse their past differences and come back (and probably to shave his ugly beard). And of course the abusive mother (Sayoni Mishra) who is solely focused on making everybody’s life hell around her!

The-WindowThen there is his friend/film-industry-contact (Praveen Maheshwari) who wants Lekh to write something commercially sellable rather than the artsy stuff he is into. The authoritative producer fellow (Ravi Patil) who again wants the same thing but is less friendly while expressing it to our snobbish writer.

The thing common about these characters are that they all want to change Lekh in someway or other, make him lead a life he detests and take away from him his prized identity of being the distressed artist. But then comes Maya (Teena Singh), a seductress who can easily decode Lekh’s complexities, an enchanting captive from another world.

Intelligent use of music by Kasturi Nath Singh and Vishal J. Singh that goes well with Dhruvan Gautham‘s cinematography.

The film perhaps a tad too long and at times monotonously chaotic, has a certain honesty about it that stays with you for longer than you The-Windowexpect. The reason for this may be the natural performances from the cast (especially Amit Vashisth and Sayoni Mishra are fantastic) or may be the autobiographical treatment of the script by the young director VK Choudhary. The madness of his protagonist in a shabby claustrophobic 1bhk where he gets his brilliant ideas only to be rejected by the world seems somehow very possible and real.

And that is the reason we need more films like The Window to reach the theatres which strive to give you tangible characters and believable locations most often never an option for the so called big-budget movies.

Photo and poster curtsey: The Window production team.

Best Russian Classic Comedy Films (10+1list)

Best Russian Classic Comedy Films

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Russian Classic Comedy Films: Though full of talented writers, actors and directors Russian Cinema have never seen its full potential for many years. Unfortunately there was strict political restriction on every aspect of art for over a period of 25 years, many valuable film-prints have been burnt and destroyed while the lives of innumerable filmmakers were wasted as they were never allowed to make a single movie!

But still some of the movies that were fortunate enough to be made and released, many among them were comedies and that too of great entertainment value. And some directors among them often in the form of allegory or satire dared to portray the real struggle of the people in the then Soviet nation. And they succeeded with flying colors!

And so here are some of the Best Russian Classic Comedy Films, evergreen and hilarious as ever!

10. The Girls (1961)

Devchata (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Divs3I1ioQ

Russian-Classic-ComedyDuring winter a young and naive girl comes to work at a lodging as a cook at a distant Siberian village and meets the most popular guy in the town. But contrary to all the other girl’s prediction it the guy who falls for her and not the other way round!

Directed by Yuriy Chulyukin, an adorable RomCom, great music, awesome performances and certainly one of the most popular Russian cinema of the time.

9. The Golden Calf (1968)

Zolotoy telyonok (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxQv7_IfLhE

Russian-Classic-ComedyBased on the famous novel from Ilya Ilf and Yevgeni Petrov by the same name, a humorous tale of a charming con man who blackmails an “underground Soviet millionaire” to fulfill his dream of moving to Rio de Janeiro.

Directed by Mikhail Shvejtser and such excellent performances by Sergey Yurskiy and Leonid Kuravlyov, a lengthy film but hilarious and definitely worth your time. 

8. Gentlemen of Fortune (1971)

Dzhentlmeny udachi (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGn-N31nHuk

Russian-Classic-ComedyA timid kindergarten teacher is mistaken as a notorious criminal because they look alike. And then the authorities try to capture the real goon by disguising the innocent as the criminal!

Directed by Aleksandr Seryj, and Evgeniy Leonov having a double role – this classic comedy-formula of mistaken identity has been used for ages but this film is probably the most hilarious example of the concept.

7. Heart of a Dog (1988)

Sobache serdtse (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-2pOQcbFx4

Russian-Classic-ComedyA science experiment has gone wrong, a Professor and his colleague manage to turn a stray dog into something very close to a human being!

Directed by Vladimir Bortko, a rare Russian Sci Fi comedy, a cult classic adopted from Mikhail A. Bulgakov‘s work, highly controversial as the film can be interpreted as a brilliant socio political allegory.

6. Only Old Men Are Going to Battle (1974)

V boy idut odni ‘stariki’ (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JN4i0OnHdA

Russian-Classic-ComedyDirected by Leonid Bykov who is also the lead in the movie, a popular classic that focuses on the Soviet pilots fighting the Germans in the Ukraine during the WWII.

Not a war film though, not exactly a comedy as well but still it will always have a special place in the history of Russian cinema for powerfully narrating the sentiments of people during the war. Great music as well!

5. Welcome, or No Trespassing (1964)

Dobro pozhalovat, ili Postoronnim vkhod vospreshchen (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blHxQ7ATzCc

Russian-Classic-ComedyA lesser known Russian comedy that guarantees enough entertainment and laughter!

It’s about the children and the strict regime they have to follow, and the struggles they have to face while growing up.

Directed by Elem Klimov, this one is a classic satire also can be interpreted as a brilliant parody of the then Soviet life. A must watch!

4. Mimino (1977)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isxBXnbuUqc

Russian-Classic-Comedy

A helicopter pilot of a local airlines goes to Moscow following his dreams to become an international pilot. But chasing dreams are always difficult.

A simple story with great cultural references, essentially about humanity and friendship.

Directed by the acclaimed Georgiy Daneliya, this one is probably the most popular Russian comedy ever made!

Other comedies by the same director are Walking the Streets of Moscow (1964), Ne goryuy! (1969), Afonya (1975), Autumn Marathon (1979) and Kin-dza-dza! (1986)

3. Operation ‘Y’ & Other Shurik’s Adventures (1965)

Operatsiya ‘Y’ i drugie priklyucheniya Shurika (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPU-L6xr_2k

Russian-Classic-Comedy

Three mini films with one common central character played by the brilliant Aleksandr Demyanenko. Hilarious and superbly performed, the comedy is more into the slapstick Charlie Chaplin zone but effective and highly entertaining!

Leonid Gayday, a director who specialized in comedy and his films are still some of the most popular ones all over the world.

Other comedies by the same director are Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (1967), The Diamond Arm (1969), Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (1973) and Twelve Chairs (1971)

2. Office Romance (1977)

Sluzhebnyy roman (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjTimO4j2T4

Russian-Classic-ComedyMy personal favorite in the list, a film that is so sensitive and yet absolutely hilarious!

A man wants to impress his strict lady-boss for that office promotion but unexpectedly they fall for each other!

Directed by one of the best Russian director of the time Eldar Ryazanov, I won’t exactly call it a laugh riot but this one will tickle your funny bones for sure.

Other comedies by the same director are Carnival in Moscow (1956), Watch Out for the Automobile (1966) and Gusarskaya ballada (1962).

1. Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980) 

Moskva slezam ne verit (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWE4KTrQaw

Russian-Classic-ComedyA masterpiece from the acclaimed director Vladimir Menshov, narrating the story of three girlfriends – starting with their adventurous youth and then leaping 20 years ahead in their lives!

The Oscar winning film though so effectively punctuated with numerous comic moments is essentially a beautiful drama that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

Other comedies by the same director are  Love and Doves (1985) and Shirli-myrli (1995).

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)

+1. Happiness (1935)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LGx3n3I_LE

Russian-Classic-ComedyA classic silent film, both funny and political at the same time.

The ‘Loser’ farmer and his misadventures – more in the line of Buster Keaton type humor where the expressionless protagonist moves around through a series of comic disasters!

One of the earliest and critically acclaimed comedy from Russia directed by Aleksandr Medvedkin.

A few other popular Russian Classic Comedy Films that didn’t make the list but totally worth checking out are Striped Trip (1961), The Night Before Christmas (1962),  Tri plyus dva (1963), The Republic of ShKID (1966), Hello, I’m Your Aunt! (1975), Formula of Love (1984), A Man from Boulevard des Capucines (1987), Peculiarities of the National Hunt (1995),  Peculiarities of the National Fishing (1997).

Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com.