review : Caramel

Director - Nadine Labaki
Written by - Nadine Labaki, Rodney El Haddad, Jihad Hojeily

Cast - Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Elmasri, Joanna Moukarzel, Sihame Haddad, Gisele Aouad

Country - Lebanon [2007]


A film that exposed me to my ignorance. The lives of 5 women living in Beirut overlap in a salon. The film departs from the usual scene and story of a war ridden Beirut and displays the cities gentler, warmer side. Each woman staunchly battles her situation and is, at the same time, able to see the lighter, brighter side of things.
Nadine Labaki's direction tells of an organic love that each of us has for the city we grew up in. I look forward to more perception altering titles from the middle east.

review : The Servant

Director - Kim Dae-woo
Written by - Kim Dae-woo
Cast - Kim Joo-hyuk, Jo Yeo-jeong, Ryu Seung-beom

Country - South Korea [2010]

The film opens into feudal Korea with an outlaw recounting his tale to a writer. A rigid class system exists in a time when brothels are socially accepted as a form of entertainment, particularly among the royalty. This is the backdrop for a triangle between a royal, his servant & an ambitious singer at the brothel. The story runs a slow, melodious pace, punctuated with moments of levity as hearts change sides and events take their turns. An entertaining story with a mildly grim conclusion.

review : Owl and the Sparrow

Director - Stephane Gauger
Written by - Stephane Gauger
Cast - Cat Ly, Le Thu Lu, Pham Thi Han

Country - Vietnam [2007]


An orphan escapes her workplace to the city where she makes a living selling flowers on the street. A zookeeper leads a solitary life with animals as companions. An air hostess is in a curtained relationship with a married pilot.
This becomes the setting for a film about the everyday incidents that go unnoticed. The film also sheds a dim light on the child labor situation that exists in most asian countries and is sadly accepted as normal.
Well received at film festivals, the film makes for a emotionally moving tale.

review : Three Times

Director - Hou Hsiao-Hsien
Written by - Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Chu T'ien-wen
Cast - Shu Qi, Chang Chen

Country - Taiwan [2005]


As can be guessed from the title, the film is cut into 3 parts.The first begins in a pool hall, establishing the connection between a young man who has recently been drafted and his amorous interest in May who works there.
The second part is set in 1911 and is shot as a silent film, with dialogue appearing in text on slides.
The last part is set in modern times amid the tempestuous nature of youth.
The film reveals the promise of love to be one that reaches across lifetimes. Although love remains the theme in each part of the film, the setting or the environment in which love resides, changes. A slow piece, the film is more suited to a lazy, rainy sunday.

review : Harishchandrachi Factory

Director - Paresh Mokashi
Written by - Paresh Mokashi
Cast - Nandu Madhav, Vibhavari Deshpande

County - India [2010]

1913, British India. A man Dhundiraj Phalke, watches the motion pictures for the first time. The film narrates the story of this man , as he struggles to create the first Indian motion picture. From the sale of personal belongings to gather funds to comic frustrations with first time actors and the Phalke's trip to Britain the film keeps us in amused anticipation. Although with some sad turns the underlying energy of the film is highly positive.
Today the highest honor in the Indian film industry is named after this ambitious and enterprising man, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award.

review : Kimjongilia

Director - N.C. Heikin

Country - South Korea [2009]

A documentary on the North Korean condition. We hear the stories of people who suffered under the Kim Family regime and to escape their misery defected. As we talk to ex military men, artists and people who were born and grew up in the North Korean prison camps, a sad and angry realization sets in. Some escape to China only to become goods of sale in human trafficking. Others seeking expatriation in Mongolia. Personal accounts of tragedies that hit the people of North Korea since its inception bring into focus the isolation of this country and more severely that of it's people.

review : Lust, Caution

Director - Ang Lee
Written by - Hui-ling Wang, James Schamus, Eileen Chang
Cast - Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Leehom Wang

Country - Hong Kong [2007]

It is near impossible to comprehend the circumstances of an individual unless their reality becomes your own. The western world is largely ignorant of the Japanese occupation of China, which is the premise of this period film. Set during the Second World War the Japanese Occupation disrupted, altered and manufactured a cascade of events, large and small, that would go unnoticed in the pages of history. The resistance movement in China operating in small cells tries to make headway by assassinating some of their own, who have become underlings of the Japanese to survive and further their own careers.This is the setting where a college going girl is aided and instructed to seduce the head of the secret police. But along the way the complexities of human nature are explored beyond the predictable. The ever mysterious nature of love and lust is once again revealed to be in the grey fog.  The emotional commitment of the actors to their roles is incomparable. The plot covers nearly 5 years of WW II from 1938 to 1942. I salute those who were part of this film and to the western viewers I say...

review : Outrage

Director - Takeshi Kitano
Written by - Takeshi Kitano
Cast -  Takeshi Kitano, Kippei Shiina, Ryo Kase, Jun Kunimura [ & others]

Country - Japan [2010]

Another Yakuza story depicting the political maneuvers and manipulations within a Yakuza family. Although the film takes off to a slow start, which might be deemed necessary for the plot to mature. Midway the film picks up pace and the viewer is drawn into the machinations of the Yakuza. With the infamous tattoos, cutting off fingers as penance, murders with the right amount of gore and the police turning a Yen influenced blind eye the film makes for a satisfying 1hr 40 min. For those of us with a curious fascination for the underworld the film is a must. There are plans to follow up with a sequel in 2012.

review:Delhi Belly

Director - Abhinay Deo
Written by - Akshat Verma
Cast - Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapoor, Poorna Jagganathan, Shenaz Treasurywala, Vijay Raaz

Country - India [2011]


Diarrhea, diamonds & blackmail. A refreshing comedy from the Indian subcontinent. Confusion ensues as a package of smuggled diamonds is replaced by a stool sample. At the center of the plot are three room mates, a self pitying copywriter, a cynical journalist, and the photo journalist with a sideline in the blackmail game. Apart from the english dialogue it is the comically timed body language that completes the film. A soundtrack that was loved by the Indian audiences. Coming from a reputed production house the film makes for a highly entertaining 102 minutes. Vijay Raaz excels as always, this time as a gangster.

review:Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring

Director - Kim Ki-duk
Written by - Kim Ki-duk
Cast - Su Oh-yeong, Kim Young-min, Seo Jae-kyung, Kim Jong-ho, Ha Yeo-jin

Country - South Korea [2003]


Each season passes as a child grows older. From mischievous to impetuous to angry. A monastery in a lake, located in a deep valley. Here the story unfolds of a monk watching over his pupil. A reflection on the development of human emotions, at times allowing the viewer to glance inwards. Although not for the fans of fast pace its simplicity allows room for thought as there is no gizmo hyper fluff to distract upon.

review:Memories of Murder

Director - Bong Joon-ho
Written by - Bong Joon-ho, Shin Sung-bo, Kim Kwang-rim
Cast - Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roe-ha, Park Hae-il, Byeon Hee-bong

Country - South Korea [2003]


Based on true events or rather murders which took place between 1986 and 1991. A serial killer creeps around small town Korea when it rains. Bong Joon-ho is the small town cop who would rather beat out a confession rather than follow procedure. Sent to assist him is a specialist from Seoul played by Kim Sang-kyung. Sprinkled with dark humor and squeamish autopsies the film's focus remains on the 2 detectives and their method. It matches the quality and substance of western counterparts like 'Zodiac' and in some regards trounces them.

review:Omkara

Director - Vishal Bhardwaj
Written by - Vishal Bhardwaj, Robin Bhatt, Abhishek Chaubey
Cast - Naseeruddin Shah, Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgan, Kareen Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vivek Oberoi, Bipasha Basu

Country - India [2006]


Shakespeare's 'Othello' is loosened upon rural India. A backdrop of dirty politics, fragile loyalties and frail ties of blood. Mixed into the plot pot is a suspicious love and treacherous ambition. The rural dialect of northern India and witty dialogue goes a long way in making the film authentic. A tight script with a well tuned soundtrack keeps close minded critics of the Indian song and dance routine at bay. Saif Ali Khan as 'Langda Tyagi' makes for the most memorable negative role in years. Vishal Bhardwaj adapted 'Macbeth' for Indian audiences in 2004 as 'Maqbool', both films underline Vishal Bhardwaj's capacity to successfully portray story lines with greater depth.

review:Election

Director - Johnnie To
Written by - Yao Nai-Hoi, Yip Tin-Shing
Cast - Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, Wong Tin-Lam

Country - Hong Kong [2005]


The Wo-Shing Society is a criminal enterprise led by a chairman, elected every 2 years. The film follows two mob bosses as they vie for the title of Chairman. Bribery, alliances and murder. The plot also centers around a 100 year old Baton that is held by the Chairman. There have been many takes on Coppola's 'The Godfather' over the years, but the concept when adapted to the modern day crime families of Hong Kong is nothing short of brilliant. The civilized dialogue only adds to the gravity of the situation.
There was a sequel 'Election 2' in 2006 where the term is up and the title is again up for grabs. As hard it is to let go of power, it is harder to shed the hold that power has on you. The current Chairman wants an extension on his term and he plays the other candidates against each other. The police is interested in a different outcome altogether, for they think it better to control that which cannot be eliminated. A must see for the criminally inclined.

review:I Saw the Devil

Director - Kim Ji-woon
Written by - Park Hoon-jung
Cast - Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik

Country - South Korea [2010]


The theme is revenge. Revenge when taken to an extreme slowly slips out of control. Choi Min-sik of 'Oldboy' fame plays a rapist and mentor to a cannibal. The helplessness of his victims will stir a sleeping horror within the viewer. The hidden pleasure  comes on seeing Lee Byung-hun play games with the sadistic murderer. A cat and mouse chase in it's most brutal and raw form. The calmness with which the act of murder is committed will leave your senses numb. The plot takes hair-pin bends before coming to a climax which leaves you in a state of shock as the psychological state of both characters hits you full blast.

review:In the Mood for Love

Director - Wong Kar-wai
Written by - Wong Kar-wai
Cast - Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung

Country - Hong Kong [2000]


This film shows how subtle a love can be. Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung are neighbors in an apartment building. With their spouses working overtime and the other neighbors playing mahjong leaves the 2 to develop a platonic relationship. The slow mutation of platonic to amorous is beautifully depicted with intimate soft moments of hesitation and unsure body language. In Hong Kong of 1960's they conform to the social norms of the day and drift apart only to share moments of brief proximity years later. The film leaves you wondering which lasts longer, love or the tragedy of love.

review:the GOOD,the BAD,the WEIRD

Director - Kim Ji-woon
Written by - Kim JI-woon & Kim Min-suk
Cast - Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-Hun, Jung Woo-sung

Country - South Korea [2008]

You will instantly recognize the title from the Clint Eastwood classic (the good,the bad and the ugly), but this film supplants it's namesake in every way. Set in 1930s , the plot is simple but the vision of Kim Ji-woon is what makes it a superior product. A treasure map, a thief, a bounty hunter, a bandit, the imperial Japanese army, Manchurian bandits.The thrills begin with a train cutting through the Manchurian desert where all the 3 characters collide and the film is set in a momentum that it will not lose till the end. The rapid scenes never make you look away. Song Kang-ho plays the funny man. Lee Byung-hun collaborates once again with Kim Ji-woon to play a brooding murderer. The climax of course is a Mexican standoff that leaves you mildly curious but mostly amused. 

               

a flickering screen

The darkness surrounds you as you sit in a cushioned seat, surrounded by a 100 or so people. The projection starts and you are lost to the world just the way the world is lost to you. Reality melts away in that darkened room to be replaced by something more vivid , something more real than your dull life can ever be...