Reviews
Dance Me to My Song (1998)
The London Film Festival Star Movie!!!
Ok, I did the whole nine yards:saw LONDON, the PALACE( did not meet the Queen)Saw the sights and heard the sounds, met wonderful people and saw a great movie at the Festival. Dance Me To My Song is unforgettable, mesmerising, thought provoking and emotionally charged.
Story of ulia is played by Heather Rose, a cerebral palsy sufferer/co-writer. She keeps your attention hooked with the aid of her emotional nemesis Madeline, played by Joey Kennedy. This movie is a must see and makes a refreshing change from what we suffer in our local theaters. Initially, a tad slow to begin with the movie picks up remarkable pace and energy as all the characters come to the fore front and yes I said characters because this is one movie where the director, Rolf De Heer has not sacrificed his characters to the gods of money or editing. Look out for the touching cameo by the brilliant Rena Owen.
The direction is great. Currently I am busy locating other Rolf De Heer movies like Bad Boy Bubby. Another great Australian director.
this is a must see movie.
Fire (1996)
Artistic Subtlety In Overkill.
The famous quote " To be or not to be " jumps to mind while watchng this nicely shot movie...thumbs up to the delicate camerawork and use of light. But then the story is found wanting. Nandita Das plumits on to the screen with a disruptive thud while the ageing veteran Shabana Azmi is watchable. Nothing of Sita or her story is mesmerising. It is almost as if the scenes are directed like little sketches. The wearing of the trousers is more a jean and then a plot revelation. The image of one female breast is crass rather than bold film making.A beautiful opportunity to express lesbian relationships in the taboo of working class Indian Society is sorely botched up, for want of a better word, and we are given fleeting images with no thread in them. Disappointing for me considering that it is a Deepa mehta movie and script. The men are shown to be true to the old misconception of all men are bastards and they are hung high from the bias pole. Not a great script and definitely poor casting. Please remember it is talent and not looks that Independent filmmaking needs.
My Son the Fanatic (1997)
I was still bored.
Well, another film from the author of My Beautiful Laundrette and more the disappointing. A lengthy title which is a prelude to the predictability of the plot to the movie, if we can call it that on the merits of the screenplay. Om Puri is wonderful as the taxi driver, embracing the western world with open arms. However, he is let down by a weak performance from Rachel Griffiths as Bettina. She is yet to be seen in anything that would make ones jaw drop in amazement. Swedish actor, Stellan Skargsgard delivers a fine performance as a decadent German and one wishes there was more of him. Similarly, one wishes there was more of the SON and his initiation, also THE INITIATORS( ACOLYTES), into the faith through the course of this wry attempt at satire.
Dir. Udayan Prasad, who directed the entertaining Brothers in Trouble, appears to have done his best with the material that he had to work with. Ultimately it is the script that lets the whole film down. Not that it was for the appeal of a wide audience, I'm sure fans of Udayan Prasad and Om puri will be the first in line to see this movie. Sadly, the satire was missed on me. Bad dialogue staled my popcorn.