Few thoughts on movies I really liked at @MumbaiFilmFest this year:
#LesMiserables:
Has to be the most powerful film of the year! Think of films like La Haine, Do The Right Thing and Training Day. A tense cop thriller set in Paris Suburbia with an explosive last act that you aren't prepared for. A solid debut from Ladj Ly!
Has to be the most powerful film of the year! Think of films like La Haine, Do The Right Thing and Training Day. A tense cop thriller set in Paris Suburbia with an explosive last act that you aren't prepared for. A solid debut from Ladj Ly!
#Bacurau:
The only thing I read about the film before watching was that it's a Brazilian western and someone said it's Brazil's version of Lagaan. I can say that's true with this film that plays out like a Kurosawa/John Carpenter mash up and it's damn entertaining!
The only thing I read about the film before watching was that it's a Brazilian western and someone said it's Brazil's version of Lagaan. I can say that's true with this film that plays out like a Kurosawa/John Carpenter mash up and it's damn entertaining!
#ForSama:
Deeply personal and a horrifying documentary of a mother's video diary in war torn Syria. An incredible look at humanity in times of war. This is an essential viewing. We owe it to the Syrian people to understand their struggle and pain.
Deeply personal and a horrifying documentary of a mother's video diary in war torn Syria. An incredible look at humanity in times of war. This is an essential viewing. We owe it to the Syrian people to understand their struggle and pain.
#Synonyms:
An intense, often chaotic, and bold film by Nadav Lapid led by Tom Mercier's tour-de-force performance. Though I couldn't get the entire political subtext, it's still a funny and sensitive portrayal of cultural identity.
An intense, often chaotic, and bold film by Nadav Lapid led by Tom Mercier's tour-de-force performance. Though I couldn't get the entire political subtext, it's still a funny and sensitive portrayal of cultural identity.
#TheLighthouse:
Watching this weird and maddening arthouse horror film on a big screen has to be my best movie theatre experience this year. It's just gorgeous to look at. Flawless performances from Dafoe and Pattinson. Robert Eggers is the future 🤘🏾
Watching this weird and maddening arthouse horror film on a big screen has to be my best movie theatre experience this year. It's just gorgeous to look at. Flawless performances from Dafoe and Pattinson. Robert Eggers is the future 🤘🏾
#TheIrishman:
Vintage Scorsese! It's so satisfying to see De Niro, Pesci and Pacino at the top of their game. A tad long especially the last 30 mins but it's also kind of necessary for the epic film to have that last act. Lucky to catch this on the big screen😊
Vintage Scorsese! It's so satisfying to see De Niro, Pesci and Pacino at the top of their game. A tad long especially the last 30 mins but it's also kind of necessary for the epic film to have that last act. Lucky to catch this on the big screen😊
#Waves:
An absolute knock out fromTrey Edward Shults. I almost got a panic attack watching those Gasper Noe-esque camera work with varying aspect ratios aided by blaring soundtrack in the 1st half. It was an immersive experience. Can't wait to see where Shults goes from here!
An absolute knock out fromTrey Edward Shults. I almost got a panic attack watching those Gasper Noe-esque camera work with varying aspect ratios aided by blaring soundtrack in the 1st half. It was an immersive experience. Can't wait to see where Shults goes from here!
#MidnightTraveler:
A heartfelt documentary shot by Fazili of his family's journey from Afghanistan to Europe highlighting refugee crisis. The filmmaker couple were on Taliban hitlist for making movies but that didn't deter this passionate filmmaker to make this.
A heartfelt documentary shot by Fazili of his family's journey from Afghanistan to Europe highlighting refugee crisis. The filmmaker couple were on Taliban hitlist for making movies but that didn't deter this passionate filmmaker to make this.
#TalkingAboutTrees:
Another great documentary this year on people passionate about cinema. Four Sudanese filmmakers trying to reopen a movie theatre and host a screening for the general public in a county where existence of cinema has been made extremely difficult. Salute!
Another great documentary this year on people passionate about cinema. Four Sudanese filmmakers trying to reopen a movie theatre and host a screening for the general public in a county where existence of cinema has been made extremely difficult. Salute!
#SorryWeMissedYou:
An anti capitalist film from Ken Loach! The old man does it again with this film that's deeply humanistic yet utterly devastating commentary on today's working class. He is no less angry here and yeah fuck capitalism!
An anti capitalist film from Ken Loach! The old man does it again with this film that's deeply humanistic yet utterly devastating commentary on today's working class. He is no less angry here and yeah fuck capitalism!
#Beanpole:
A brutally bleak yet beautifully shot film depicting post World War Leningrad through relationship and trauma shared by two women. I particularly loved the long takes and tracking shots used to good effect here and reminded me of Son Of Saul.
A brutally bleak yet beautifully shot film depicting post World War Leningrad through relationship and trauma shared by two women. I particularly loved the long takes and tracking shots used to good effect here and reminded me of Son Of Saul.
#Babyteeth:
Though the film seemed to be a familiar one, it turned out to be a very pleasing film with such good writing, wonderful cast and beautiful visuals. An absolute crowd pleaser and a great debut from Shannon Murphy!
Though the film seemed to be a familiar one, it turned out to be a very pleasing film with such good writing, wonderful cast and beautiful visuals. An absolute crowd pleaser and a great debut from Shannon Murphy!
#HailSatan? :
A hilarious documentary about the Satanic temple that's equally funny and provocative. Satanists are surely great trolls. A though provoking take on organised religion focusing on Satinist group who believe in religious freedom.
A hilarious documentary about the Satanic temple that's equally funny and provocative. Satanists are surely great trolls. A though provoking take on organised religion focusing on Satinist group who believe in religious freedom.
#ILostMyBody:
An incredibly creative, ambitious and surreal animation. A severed hand that moves through Paris trying to find it's owner and there's another story in parallel about an young guy finding love(Slightly creepy!). Soon on Netflix!
An incredibly creative, ambitious and surreal animation. A severed hand that moves through Paris trying to find it's owner and there's another story in parallel about an young guy finding love(Slightly creepy!). Soon on Netflix!
#GreenerGrass:
Batshit Crazy! A wonderfully weird and surreal comedy that doesn't make any sense but it's thoroughly entertaining. I love watching films like these with the crowd.
Batshit Crazy! A wonderfully weird and surreal comedy that doesn't make any sense but it's thoroughly entertaining. I love watching films like these with the crowd.
#Deerskin:
Fuck! Killer Style! My 1st Quentin Dupieux film and wasn't really prepared for it. Jean Dujardin and his love for his new jacket make up a hilarious midlife crisis satire.
Fuck! Killer Style! My 1st Quentin Dupieux film and wasn't really prepared for it. Jean Dujardin and his love for his new jacket make up a hilarious midlife crisis satire.
#TheWhistlers:
A thriller, a heist comedy with enough double crossings to challenge Abbas Mustan films but it's neatly done with an interesting premise involving whistling language.
A thriller, a heist comedy with enough double crossings to challenge Abbas Mustan films but it's neatly done with an interesting premise involving whistling language.
