MFF 21, 2019, 04: Ten films seen, with ratings
MFF 21, 2019, 04: Ten films seen, with ratings
Halfway through Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) 21st Mumbai Film Festival MFF), till 21 October, I had managed to see the following films. Here are cryptic reviews, with their star ratings:
- A Son, France-Tunisia-Lebanon-Qatar, Directed by Mehdi M. Barsaoui, Rating: *** ½
Influences of Iranian cinema apart, the film has some real depth. It leaves several questions unanswered, but that turns out to be its strength. Performances are A grade.
- The Two Popes, Italy-Argentina, Fernando Meirelles, *** ½
City of God and City of Men’s director tales un up-close look at the Papacy, using two English -speaking actors, Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, to play the German and the Argentinian Popes. Rarely has so much sermonising been done in such an informal and tongue-in-cheek manner.
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- Atlantics, France-Senegal-Belgium, Mati Diop, Walked out
Some boys in Senegal embark on a boat trip to cross the ocean and enter Spain, to migrate to Europe. This was all that happened for about 25 minutes, and I got impatient.
- The Golden Glove, Germany-France, Fatih Akin, **
Blood, gore and mayhem. Sawing of body parts. Serial killer gone the Lars von Trier way. Saved partly by high-level performances, but does no credit t a director of the reputation of Fatih Akin. Cannot believe I sat through the whole film.
- Little Joe, Austria-Germany-UK, Jessica Hausner, ** ½
Quaint little sci-fi movie about plants. No super heroes, no super villains. In English, with natural acting. Ambivalent. Its stance seems to shift and waver. Has a very good, off-beat premise.
- Invitation, India, Saurav Rai: **
A thin story line, enacted by members of the director’s family. Exquisite landscapes and down-to-earth taking shot taking. Kind of film festivals like but audiences get bored. Amazingly again, I sat through it.
- Tommaso, Italy, Abel Ferrera: **
William Dafoe, rehabilitated alcoholic and drug addict is married to a Moldavian woman and is learning Italian, when as he is undergoing therapy and administering therapy himself. Marriage is on the rocks. Yes, sat through this one too.
- Other Side of the Box (short), USA, Caleb J. Philips: **
Horror for horror’s sake. An ex boy-friend of a woman gifts a box to her current beau. The box contains a living human head. Scary
- Harpoon, Canada, Rob Grant: Walked out
Three persons and a luxury boat. The two men are in love with the same girl, who is the third person on board. A while ago, the girl and the less privileged man gifted a harpoon to their buddy, which they take along on a pleasure cruise. Skeletons tumble out and the harpoon now becomes a weapon. Blood, human and skylark’s, blood drinking, cutting off of a septic fore-arm…I will spare you the rest
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- Dithee, India, Sumitra Bhave: *** ½
Most likely inspired by the works of Ingmar Bergman. Dealing with floods and the washing away of a son, a man living in the interiors of Maharashtra gets into severe depression, more so because he has been singing praise of Bhagwan for 30 years. Birth and death juxtaposed. A lot of Hindu religiosity, but contextually relevant. Excellent performances. Sumitra Bhave deservedly got the Best Director award at the Singapore Asian Film Festival a couple of months ago. (DFithee means 'seeing', in a Marathi language dialect).
There are four more days to go. Will add to this list at the end of the festival.
