patil_umesh

Film from one of the great Korean film-makers, Kim Ki-duk. Pieta is most appreciated film, won Golden Lion at Venis Film festival ! Belief about law of karma is vividly reflected in every scene. Sins will accumulate bad karma and will end up person into trouble. Films by Kim Ki-duk are characterized by very less dialogues. Emotions are showcased through body language, expressions and background score. Violence by protagonist shows lack of love, kindness. He grew up without mother. He was abandoned by mother in childhood.

Protagonist of film is man named kang-do. In order to recover money from men, who took loan but couldn't pay back, protagonist decides to cripple them by cutting their hands and claim insurance money. He attracts revenge of these people and families, which ended up into worse situation and started begging on streets. Film shows mysterious relation between woman telling mother of a man. She says, she abandoned him at very early age.

This film overall showcases a class of population, which survive life resorting to crime and violence. Lack of jobs in society generates poverty, joblessness. People end up doing crimes for their bread and butter. Family system is broken. Children orphaned at early age of childhood survived by doing whatever job comes on their way. They lack emotions, empathy or kindness. Ack of nurturing make them land up into low grade jobs, if not crimes. In such time, rich men offers loans and try to profit by raising interest rate high.

Couple of scenes for which film criticized could be easily ignored if one doesn't like. Everybody has uncalled fantasies, film-maker tries to put in film to make it real.

I watched this film in Retrospective section of Pune International Film Festival (PIFF). Director of the film died due to covid in 2020.

Pieta is the must watch in Korean films.

Brilliant cinematography. Topic of film is unique. Film is set on bank of river ganga in Banaras, where dead bodies are brought for funeral procession. Protagonist , named Suraj, does photography of dead bodies, and makes a meagre earning. Film is divided into around multiple chapters revolving around different parts of his life along with friends, sister, death.

Photographer is passing through difficult time to earn his living for family, still able to take life light-heartedly. His wife is uncomfortable in such life, however content as well as supportive. They have good conversations, recalling memories about their marriage.

Picture shows ephemeral nature of life. Dead bodies are burnt besides river ganga. Person working along with that knows life of human is very short. There is a dialogue that says, life is such short as it takes to switch a button. Even through serious topic of death, few humorous dialogues will bring smiles on your face.

One of best films and work watching.

Churchill is known as one of powerful and influential personalities of twentieth century. Movie showcases his time since he became prime minister of United Kingdom and his work in administration.

First time, I am able to realize other side of a great leader. Churchill fans might not like to see negative sides of a leader. Films shows he is short tempered and gets easily angry over anybody who works with him. He drinks very frequently, even during day time. He is unable to talk properly. He spatters while he talks.

His most decisions are unapproved by others and have to be executed on his strict order. Churchill is the only political leader who received Nobel Prize in literature. He wrote pages after pages in his lifetime. He wrote speeches on his own, but in old age he has hired a girl who writes for him as he dictates. Film also show him taking help of US Army while his decision to save soldiers from Dunkirk. Churchill fans would love watching him giving persuasive, motivating speeches. He is one of greatest orator in history. Small clippings of his best speeches such as "Finest hours", "His offerings of Blood sweet and tears" are shown in films.

Film ends with his quotes - "Success is not final, Failure is not fatal, It is courage to continue that counts." Film should be worth watching for every individual, who loves history and aware of context of World War II.

I couldn't stop watching on first day when it is released. Feeling proud to write a review of movie that is an Indian entry into Oscars in foreign language category.

In context of Indian subcontinent, day of parliament election is decisive factor about who will rule largest democracy in the world. Film shows how an honest and fearless Indian follows his duty to conduct voting in jungles of Chhattisgarh. He was supposed to get about votes from 76 adavasis. He succeeds to carry out election in region that was controlled by naxals.

In life we always look for escape route towards comfort and while doing so, we put down our values. This film talks about a person, called Newton, who lived his life with honesty and remained true to himself. He remained fearless while following his duty and never deterred to give in his principles. His eccentric presence among rest creates humorous moments.

Subtle humor is created when we righteous person responds even though who seems odd among rests. Script and dialogues are excellent work of typical black comedy. Film is must watch to understand reality of Indian elections.

I watched this movie in MAMI, year round program film screening. I had also got opportunity to interact with director of the film - Ritesh Batra. He is called as cinematic tinder of common man, because he brings romance into lives of characters that have faced struggle and challenges in life.

It is a beautiful story of old aged woman and man who were living alone for years after their spouses have died. They break silence and start sleeping over same bed only to escape loneliness. Both of them continue talking and gossiping about their past lives, happy moments as well as regrets. Their children have grown up and are living their own independent life. Film is an emotional drama, warmth in relationships, and shows sense of human life in dialogues. It explores psyche of old age through their responses to life circumstances. Film end up teaching many life lessons through these characters. Addie regrets that she has spent years thinking what people would be talking about her.

Film is adapted from the novel of same name by Kent Haruf, who died just few weeks after publishing his last novel.

This film is unique because for its style. Even though it is a romantic love story, actress or female character does not appears in film till the end! Isn't this fantastic concept? This is one of the well admired artwork by Adoor Gopalkrishnan. The protagonist is a prisoner and falls in love with a woman locked on other side of a wall. Film is based on few years spent by Malayalam writer VM Basheer in prison. It is cinematic art on his Autobiography. He wrote stories, novels during his stay in prison.

Film opens doors of prison during pre-independent time, and reveal life of prisoners. How it was miserable. They were served food, locked into their room. People spent their years in life gossiping, smoking, walking to and fro. They even lost of count of days spent in prison. Suddenly after long time, they used to get release orders. Protagonist was brought in jail for his civil disobedience against British raj. He has been locked up for more than four years. He was well respected by all prison administrators. Stories by him well received and admired by all. He was supported to write by providing pen and paper regularly,. Few jailers also gave him cigarettes to smoke. Prison chef gave him tea, sugar, so he could prepare tea for himself

Films by Adoor sir have charm of music that expresses emotions of loneliness, hope. One story told by a prisoner is very touching. Film implicitly expresses destiny, hope.

Climax of film is very touching. Basheer won't be able to meet the woman with whom he is talking and fell in love with, because he is released.

Movie is exploration of all sufferings women have gone through in Indian history. Society was male dominated and superstitious. Women were used as toy of pleasure and slaved to work home chores.

A acclaimed Bengali director Aparna Sen has sketched a portrayal of a dumb woman in area, women were forced to burn alive in funeral pyre of her husband. They hold with superstition that a wife will follow her husband and accompany even in heaven.

First shot of movie is very long shot showing a widow is taken in palakhi towards a funeral and she for thrown into fire. The event is watched by a dumb girl, Uma by hiding behind the tree. This role of girl is played by well-known Indian actress, Shabana Azami. Rest movie tells how this innocent girl was forced to marry with a tree, because she was out of puberty and lost her youth. Her childhood, most of day is spent across tree trunk. That tree remained her companion. She hide herself in tree trunk even ever she was punished by her parents. At the time of heavy rainfall, she died along the tree is uprooted during night storm.

It is a hilarious and compelling story of relationship between aging father and his compassionate daughter. Protagonist daughter, Ines Conradi, is business consultant. Role of father, Winfried Conradi, is played by Peter Simonischek.

I really loved character of Ines played by Sandra Huller. She is full of expressions, humane and played excellent acting. Her work pressure, anxiety of failed conversation, corporate submission towards male colleagues, and patience and kindness towards her father look honest and real. She is on business trip of Romania to make outsourcing deals with CEO for natural oil station installations. All of a sudden her aging father, Winfried Conradi, stalks behind her from office lobby to reconnect with her. Ines knew about it but she accepts him as he is. He produces many dilemmas with his bizarre behavior and conversations, but his daughter is patient, compassionate to let him be as he is. She accepts his father despite his presence has ruined her workplace surrounding. She is kind enough to fulfill wish of her father to know what she does. Her attachment towards him keeps growing.

Let me tell why this movie is so humorous. Father tired to amuse people around his daughter with fake identity as Toni Erdmann, a life coach of CEO. He uses wig to hide white hairs, he wears blazer and business casual to look professional. He uses false teeth for fun. She does not hesitate to take her dad for office party, dinner, shopping. He pretends himself as German ambassador during their visit to Oil installation units. He made her daughter sing a song 'Greatest Love of All' impromptu on his piano.

Cinematography of movie is unique way to making characters alive fluidly. Character is a prime focus of camera. Locations and dialogues tell a Romanian culture and corporate environment. A European woman is playing multiple soles simultaneously and able to do work life balance.

I watched 'Founder', a biopic of Ray Kroc, man who fed junk food to everyone on this planet. A man behind McDonald, largest retail chain across many countries in the world. He started with a deal of franchising, and then made number of deals to open many outlets to grow supply, followed with demand. He sold powered milk with added flavors in name of milk shake. To have control over business, he leased out land purchased in name of Real Estate Company started by him. This made him break contracts signed with original owner of McDonald. He didn't pay royalty to them. As said, 'Power corrupts', he sued them to turn down boards with name of McDonald. He has confessed-'Contracts are like hearts, are made to be broken.'

This is motivational film, and successfully tells when you have persistence in doing things, you can build empire starting with zero.

I am blessed to experience an amazing Iranian film Breath directed by Narges Abyar, a Jury member at Pune International Film Festival 2017. Film has visually stunning imageries and it showcases world painted through eyes of a little girl named Bahar. Film has narration in voice of naive girl along with animated stories imagined by her.

Bahar lived with her father, three brothers and grand-mother. She is brilliant as she could recall currencies, capitals of all countries. At a very young age she reads big spirituals books, starts lessons of Quran. She stands first in her class. Her father is suffering from asthma. Girl dreams to become doctor and cure her father. Her sketches are very beautiful and she wishes them to be showcased on television. Movie showcases Iranian culture and history through this film. Her mother forbids her to walk along with boy outside. She even says girls shouldn't laugh out loud, but just show smile.

Her father has gifted her wooden boat. Movie perfectly ends showing this toy drifts down in stream of water after military attack that destroyed the village.

The theater reverberated with wonderful applause while family shown celebrating over song from Bollywood Hindi film Sholey. The director has shown love for Indian culture and films. She asked to support for justice of Narges Ashtari, social worker in Odisha.

Lives of innocent children, their aspirations, lives are shattered by war, mass destruction caused by international conflicts. Movie boldly communicates consequences of war. This film received standing ovation in Pune!

At International Film Festival of India(IFFI 2016), this film won Golden peacock award in Best Film category received by director Raza Mirkarimi and Best Actor award by Farhad Aslani who played a role of Azizi, a father.

Though the title is Daughter, movie is all about caring but dictating father. He is working as a top level manager in an oil refinery in southern Iran. He deals with everyone in family on orders. Not a single major decision is taken without his consent. When his daughter, Setareh goes out of house for a day tour in Tehran and against wish of her father, he gets furious and rides car 1000+ kilometers on next day to bring her back. In search of his daughter, he has to visit his sister's house. In her house his all past memories stand in front of him and he was made to think about his own character that influenced lives of many. Very emotional and gripping drama is developed while conversation with his sister. At the start, we see a short tempered, angry dictating father, but at the end we realize him as a person in depth.

Movie starts with a few girls having dinner party and ends with an emotional drama. Movie ends on abrupt point. We could not see issues raised in second part of movie are resolved. It might be vision of director to keep movie open ended and let audience keep thinking what might have happened afterwards.

I am really charmed by sound, music and colors in cinematography. His oil refinery and car going in and out is shown in top view through sky is an example of beauty.

This film is based on true events in Poland. After the end of World War II in 1945, many polish nuns in catholic convent became pregnant one after the other. This revealed that these women were physically abused and raped by Russian army. During that time a communist French nurse,Madeleine Pauliac working for Red Cross came to treat wounded Russian soldiers look after these women. The lady doctor performs a noble task beyond her duty to reduce labour pain, help during them child birth. She secretly visits convent to treat patient nuns, provide medicines,and save many babies. She took risk of her life and from being fired from her job for treating enemy.

Nuns had chosen to remain celibate,but become victim of rape and lose virginity. Lead sister in convent tried to keep this secret to avoid their condemnation and dismissal from society. Few babies were sent to their relatives, few were sent to adaptation house. One baby was left abandoned over snow-capped hill to let somebody own it.

This movie is excellent art. Visuals, colour schemes are stunning. Costumes of nuns, their paths of celibacy,devotion towards Jesus, sermons recited by them are spiritually blissful. Suffering and outcry of women during childbirth is heartbreaking.

Women were looked only as an instrument of sexual gratification, while they were performing exhausting task in cooking, cleaning and other households. This film indirectly raises questions upon inhuman behavior by during war. This film reminded me an Oscar winning film, Ida, based upon nun who chose to devote herself to god.

Movie shows grim picture of war zones in Afghanistan. Journalists visit those places to broadcast news and stories from the conflict zone. Movie tells three different stories/chapters in which journalists have risked their life and family to perform their duties.

Few American soldiers burn Quran, and incident generates lot of hatred against soldier among people in country. A lady correspondent Lana tries to take interview of people who burnt Quran, but they play dirty tricks with her by asking her to undress. In another example, a journalist takes a taxi, but taxi-driver takes him somewhere far outside in desert.

This film showcases breathtaking situations in war prone zone in Afghanistan!

This is family drama full of emotions, warmth and love. Mentally retarded couple,Reza and Maryam, is struggling to survive in contemporary time of Iran. For them, daily living is a challenge. They face hurdle in minor tasks such as crowing road, cooking, walking also even expressing their thoughts. They do their best to keep warmth of love in their relationships. Problems in life grows while nurturing their son, as it starts going to school and needs healthy, physically fit parents. The film takes a turn when Reza has to slap mischievous son and son walks out to teacher's house. Couple is working in pharmaceutical company in packaging division. Unfortunate layoffs make it difficult for him to find suitable job. He chooses delivery man in food retail. Many emotional scenes, background score and powerful acting talent of Shahab Hosseini have made this milestone in Iranian cinema.

Very much heartfelt and moved after watching a film 'Under Construction' by debut filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain. Loved creative use of Rabindranath Tagore's work. Plot structure reminded me Salesman by Asghar Farhadi. Both switch between play and film. Lives of men, women working in construction industry, garment industry in Bangladesh have turned so mechanical that nobody cares if anybody dies while building construction. Film centers around character Roya, theatre artist, aspiring for her identity as theatre director by setting her own Company. Film has many shades of events, emotions adorned with astounding music and shows current day picture of society.

It is mesmerizing and emotional film. I was in tears in first fifteen minutes. Overflowing love and compassion of mother grips your heart. A woman has dared to live and dedicate for her daughter. What mother can do to nurture her daughter? She accepts abusive husband to nurture her kids. She does everything to educate her daughter in good surrounding and let her stand on her own feet. Many times she curses herself for not being able to serve as much she wished. For every mother, her kid is baby even though it is grown up. Mother symbolizes unconditional and selfless. I am fortunate to watch this movie in Korean film festival. This movie is evocative drama. Scripts, dialogues and characterization are powerful. Kim Hae-Sook performing a role of a mother has done incredible acting. This could be one of great Korean movies.

This is yet another tremendous work by Ang Lee. Movie showcases post- victory celebration of war heroes, opinions and responses of people in the nation, inability of people to perceive their sacrifice of personal life and struggle between life and death. The psychological state of nineteen year old young war hero is sketched very effectively. Innocence, teenage infatuation, parting, and vanity of war are well communicated through dialogues and expressions. Director has nicely showcased high end display technology used in current day's sports and media. Script juggles between war scenes and post war recognition as gone through sensitive minds of young soldier. Movie has acknowledged rule of detachment from Hindu epic philosophy of Bhagavad-Gita. Also I am glad to see Lord Ganesha worshiped by a crew member.