Innale - P Padmarajan
After Thoovaanathumbikal, i felt like watching more of Padmarajan. I picked 'Innale' the film starring Sobhana, Jayaram, Suresh Gopi and Sreevidya. The first thing i noticed is how beautiful Sreevidya is.
Anyway just into 20 minutes of the film i noticed the following
1. The script is beautiful. Well written. Craft.
2. Padmarajan was too good for Malayalam cinema.
3. He should have been recognized along with Guru Dutt. Is it because he was mallu that it never happened? Adoor made crap films except for one or two and is a more national figure than Padmarajan. I can't understand why. Really, his craft was definitely way ahead of his time, definitely good even now. It's not possible to watch most Malayalam films released now and before without cringing at some dialogues or the entire screenplay. In here, Padmarajan's screenplay is as realistic as what some of the new directors are trying today 'Ee Ma Ou', 'Eeda' for example.
4. The dream sequence in the beginning
When played, for a while, it looks like the camera is tracking in and zooming out to make it look like she is not running. This is something i would like to copy. Usually it is done with close-ups in dramatic moments. This dream sequence - something i like very much in films - is really nicely done. I have not seen such a good dream sequence in Malayalam films actually.
I just realized that i had watched this film while in SRFTI as well. Also Innale and a bunch of other films by Padmarajan. From the earlier entry,
Look at these frames in which the director is showing the isolated woman in a misty past. She can see nothing ahead or behind her and is in an island in the middle of nowhere. Simple and elegant.
Watching and re-watching seeing yourself grow in cinema - that's the only thing worth living for. That and love.
Prayaanam (1975)
Started watching from the beginning now. The debut of Padmarajan as script writer and also of Bharatan as director - Prayanam. The one in which a young woman is married to an old Brahmin who rapes her every night or so. Then there is a young man who comes back to his illam. His mother was a rebellious woman. She was the first woman to go to college from that areas. Inevitably her marriage is broken and the neglected child goes on to have sex with foreigners who ditch him for other men. He is now on a quest for sex or love which he finds in Lakshmi. The Brahmin husband sees them make out and drops Lakshmi back at her father's place, reminding the father and her that he had married her out of pity - so that Lakshmi's father who was also his teacher would be relieved of one of his female children. Female children in the house is a burden because they have to be married off and one needs to have the required dowry and money for other wedding stuff. But Lakshmi goes back. Promises to be a good girl. The old brahmin stops raping her because he has dignity. He doesn't want to sleep with a woman who slept with another man. Despite the promise, Lakshmi and Aravindan embrace each other when they see each other when the fireworks at the temple festival go off. (This reminded me of a scene from Kodiyetam - will have to watch it again to see how similar it is)
It's not a great film. Nor is the script great. Padmarajan was still in that stage where women wearing sleveless blouses, educated, speaking in English, playing cards with men can only have one meaning - a bad mother.
You can see it in these scenes. Have you noticed how there will always be one element in such situations to represent the 'real' culture of Kerala - in most cases, it is a domestic help. You can find him here too. He is for caring for the child ignored by the mother. Also to silently disapprove of what is happening - his helplessness increases the audience's hatred towards the woman who gave up the 'real' culture and tradition.
But what struck me was that the punishment for the woman who cheated on her husband is not that big - was it like that|? You can even see Kaviyoor Ponnamma - one of those roles in which she was young and not the mother of Mohanlal - she kind of acts as a nanny to the young son of the old Brahmin priest. She even tells the priest that it was his fault to begin with! She asks him to bring her back. I was really surprised. Infidelity was common? Or was it inconsequential then? Who knows.
I didn't understand why Bharatan was given a State Award for best Art Direction for this film.
Itha Ivide Vare
Had watched this one too earlier and had forgotten. The one where Soman enters and asks Jayan, the boatperson to take him 'itha ivide vare'. This must be the second time Padmarajan wrote for the screen. I V Sasi directed the film. The script itself is not that great. Moreover, it lacked the expertise of Bharatan. Watching this film after 'Prayaanam' will serve well to demonstrate how the director's job can make and break a script.
This is the story in which Soman takes revenge on Madhu, who killed his father (Ummer) and mother (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) when he was just a child. He returns as a painter. A wealthy one. No one knows who is paying to buy his paintings. This is just one of the loose ends in the script. There is an entire story of Madhu and Sarada having an affair resulting in Jayabharati's birth. In birth, the mother dies.
Here too, Padmarajan can be seen nurturing his ridiculous ideas about women, chastity etc. Jayabharati's character is a kind of a rebel at that. So Soman has sex with her, hoping to impregnate her. Because that means that she 'nasikkaled'. Having sex only 'pezhappikkals' (spoil) the woman. Hoping she gets pregnant he tries to hint it to her asking if everything is all right. And she laughs him off. Even the second time, she has sex with him because she likes it. She also asks him to fuck off when he offers to 'protect' her. It was a delight watching her make this man go mad. :D
Wikipedia says this was Padmarajan's first successful script. Which means that 'Prayaanam' was a flop? And why was this film so successful? I liked the song - Entho Etho Enganeyo. Ente Manassiloraalasyam. Nice word aalasyam.
I am eager to look at the women Padmarajan created.
Rathinirvedam (1978)
First of all, why was this film remade with Swetha Menon?
Again, Padmarajan's script. He also wrote a novel by the same name. Bharatan's direction. If at all someone else had to direct Padmarajan's films, it had to be Bharatan. Not anyone else. I have not watched the one by Sethumadhavan. But still, Bharatan's understanding of Padmarajan's plot, characters etc is the closest it can get, i feel.
Pappu and Rathichechi story is a coming of age film. My only problem is the Rathi dies in the end. Don't see why that was necessary at all. It does have elements that were explicitly meant and filmed to arouse the malayalee male audience. Even then, it is not a bad film. It is not porn. It is not misogynistic. I mean compare this film withe kind of crap that comes to theatres these days in Malayalam - it was really much better then. Jayabharati must have become or been a sex icon with this. Many scenes and shots designed to accentuate her curves and body in general. Those pointy bras of the time...
Even from the trailer it was evident that the remake with Swetha Menon was CRAP.
K P A C Lalitha and Kaviyoor Ponnamma are their young selves. Lalitha married to Soman. Pappu's father is absent. Wikipedia says Director Bharathan had proposed actress K.P.A.C. Lalitha after the shooting of this film.[5] They remained together till the death of the former. I went 'awww' on this one of course.
The Clovehitch Killer
Pretty good one. With son finding out about father. Confronting. Him destroying evidence etc. But felt it lacked something. Don't know what.
Chinatown
When i shared my synopsis (of the screenplay i am working on, right now) my professor from SRFTI asked me if i had watched Chinatown. She was reminded of it, she said. When she narrated the beginning of the film, i remembered that i had watched it. But could not remember what i felt about it. Anyway watched the film again as it is often mentioned in the book i am reading now 'Story'.
So i realised that it's a Polanski film. I am a polanski hater even before i learned about the rape allegations against him. Anyway. It's quite well made and everything and honestly is the best Polanski i have watched. Even then the film didn't affect me much. What was the point of it all i wonder. Also, i was somehow under the impression that it was black and white. Had forgotten that Jack Nicholson had done the lead role too. Maybe i am confusing this film with one of the film noir ones.
So now i will dig up what i wrote 3 years ago when i watched it for the first time.
That holds even now, i guess. Really the film just gave that rapist another daughter to rape. What the hell.
Kramer Vs. Kramer
Part of 'Story' reading. It's a well written, well made film. But i don't understand this. By the mother in the end, letting her son go, isn't it saying that women's liberation - as Mr. Kramer calls it once - is bullshit? But it's not that black and white and that's the beauty of the film too. The mother - the epitome of motherhood decides to leave her child twice in this film. And yet Meryl Streep's character is not one to hate. The film doesn't portray her that way. It also talks about a major problem - the career building man Vs. the woman who has to give up her career for family. Mrs. Kramer is someone who broke out of that. And this is presented as a valid reason. This is why we feel indignant when in court, the lawyer questions her asking if her husband ever beat her or her child, ever cheated on her etc. Trying to say that there was no valid reason for her to leave. In the court, her 'character' is also questioned as always and we get pissed with the lawyer. This is the right way to do things. Love it.
Oh god! I just read what Streep had to say about the shoot. Hoffman, the male lead sexually harassed her during the film. Not just her, see this:
Oh god. I just read Dustin Hoffman's page. After the Harvey Weinstein revelations, he was one of the people who were exposed. Terrifying allegations by many women. God.
Through a Glass Darkly - Bergman
Was mentioned in 'Story' and i like Bergman anyway so watched. I felt that in the end what he is trying to say is that belief in god is necessary and that god is love, love definitely exists so god does too. I found it cute. Anyway this is the film in which Daughter, Son, Father, Daughter's husband+doctor stay near the sea, camping, fishing, holidayiing. The daughter is out of a mental hospital. Since she was give shock treatment, her hearing is now sharper. She hears more. What she hears is people. They are all waiting for god to come out of the wall. The son wants appreciation from father but he isn't getting any. He is incestuous. He tells his sister not to hug and kiss him. He looks at pictures of naked women. In the end they also have sex, i guess. Anyway the helicopter ambulance arrives in the end, the daughter is taken away and the son and father finally talk. The father is a writer, he wants to write something meaningful or something like that. Him being career oriented is not viewed kindly by the daughter and son. He chronicles his daughter's incurable disease hoping it will help him in his writing. He is ashamed of this because it would look like he was using her. (I don't see how it's bad). Anyway when the daughter finds it out, she is sad.
I felt that the characters of the husband and father are not fully developed. I liked the music. Just learned that it was Bach. I like Bach then. Wikipedia:
I think i have watched Winter Light. Will have to see.
Corrected this in Wikipedia. Also changed 'men's book' to porn magazine. How can one call porn magazine 'men's magazine'. What the hell that's so disrespectful to men and still they don't understand feminism. *head-hit-wall*
Bergman's relationship with his wife Käbi Laretei influenced the film, which is dedicated to her.
Yeah. How sweet. Had seen the dedication plate in the beginning. And yes, i don't understand why Karen did some sort of sexually suggestive acts during one of her delusional episodes. I didn't understand the point of incest too except that it was the highest point of love between the brother and sister. Karen does tell him that he is the only one who even understands her. I understand that.
The title of the film is taken from the 'love passage' in 1 Corinthians 13 from the bible.
The mirror part came from Bergman making notes for this film in his diary. He was planning to meet and reconcile with his parents. Mother's name is Karin, i gather.
Some frames
Aakaasadoothu
കണ്ട ചെമ്മാനും ചെരുപ്പുകുത്തിക്കുമൊക്കെ അങ്ങനെ തോന്നും. എന്ന് പറയുന്ന നെടുമുടി വേണു. ജഗതിയുടെ കഥാപാത്രത്തെ അയാള് വിളിക്കുന്നത് തന്നെ ചെമ്മാനെന്നാണ്. അയാള് കള്ള് ഷാപ്പില് നിന്നും അച്ചന് ഇറങ്ങിവരുന്നത് കാണുമ്പോള് മാത്രമാണ് പേടിച്ച് നെടുമുടി വേണു അയാളെ പേര് വിളിക്കുന്നത്. അപ്പോഴാണ് അയാളുടെ പേര് ഗീവര്ഗീസ് മാത്യു എന്നാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാകുന്നത്. വേറാരും അയാളെ സിനിമയില് പേര് വിളിക്കുന്നില്ല. തട്ടിപ്പ് നടത്തുന്ന ഒരു പള്ളീലച്ചനാണ് അയാള്.
Oh god i watched the whole film and cried and cried and cried. Afraid i'll get a headache because of the crying. It is a very well made film. Not lazy direction. Real effort has gone into making it. Like people paying attention to art direction - effort. Murali performance is just great in this. Really. The best i have seen him do. And this woman Madhavi. From November inte Nashtam i am a fan of her beauty. Nobody can get anymore beautiful.
The woman gets cancer. In the hospital when the testing of blood shots are shown we get to know that something is up. That should be avoided. Internal conversation with the nurse and doctor does increase anxiety and make it look good but it could have been better. Also since i am reading 'Story' now, noticing that the inciting incident happens really late in this film. At almost one hour.Till then the father's alcoholism is the problem is what audience think. Also unanswered questions - like the subplot of the murder of the father by the man who tries to rape Madhavi - it doesn't go anywhere. Nothing happens to the man who killed him. Sibi Malayil directed.
One more day she pleads to jesus christ but does not get that. I like it that god is portrayed as a villain here. Because i am an atheist and if even if people don't realise that there is no god, believing that the god they think exists is an asshole is an alternative i like. He he.
9
The Prithviraj film, Prithviraj productions film. He was seen saying that Ezra was a hit. Why was that film a hit. Whai! It was so stupid. Anyway this is the one in which he is an astro physicist. I was liking it so much thinking it was going to bring a nice science fiction or something. Now i am tempted to write a science fiction script. Anyway this one is mixing a lot of things together and the ending is just like Ezra.
എല്ലാവരും കുമ്പളങ്ങി കാണുന്ന ലോകത്ത് '9' കണ്ടതാണെന്റെ പരാജയം. മോശം സിനിമയൊന്നുമല്ല. എസ്രയുടെ ബാധ ഇതുവരെ പോകാത്തതെന്താണ്? അതൊരു നല്ല സിനിമ പോലുമല്ലായിരുന്നല്ലോ! ഒമ്പത് ദിവസത്തേയ്ക്ക് ഇലക്ട്രിസിറ്റി ഇല്ലാതായാല് വാട്ട്സാപ്പ് ഫേസ്ബുക്കൊക്കെ പോകും അപ്പോള് എല്ലാവരും മനുഷ്യരാകും എന്ന് ഒരു ആസ്ട്രോഫിസിസിറ്റ് അയ്യായിരം പേരുടെ മുമ്പില് നിന്ന് പറയാണ്. ഇങ്ങനെയൊക്കെ എഴുതുമ്പൊ എഴുതുന്നോര്ക്ക് നാണാവില്ലേ. അത് പോട്ടെ. പൃഥ്വിരാജിന്റെയല്ലേ പ്രൊഡക്ഷന് ഹൗസ് (ആമിര് ഖാന് ഫാനാണെന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു. ലോഗോ കണ്ടാലങ്ങനെ തോന്നും.) ആ ചെന്നായയെും ആകാശത്തെയുമൊക്കെ പോസ്റ്റില് ടെക്നോളജി ഒന്നുകൊണ്ട് മാത്രം ഒട്ടിച്ച് ചേര്ത്തട്ട് ഇങ്ങനെയൊക്കെ പറയാമോ! ആദ്യം ചൈല്ഡ് സെക്ഷ്വല് അബ്യൂസിന്റെ വാണിങ്ങ് കണ്ടപ്പൊ ഞാന് വിചാരിച്ചു അതായിരിക്കും സിനിമയുടെ കാതല് എന്ന്. കണ്ട് കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പൊ അത് സെക്ഷ്വല് അബ്യൂസല്ല, മെന്റല് ഇമോഷനല് അബ്യൂസ്, തല്ലുക എന്നതാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലായി. സംസാരിക്കേണ്ട വിഷയം തന്നെയാണ്. (അച്ഛനല്ല അമ്മയാണ് ഇത് ചെയ്യുന്നതെങ്കില് ആ സ്ത്രീയോട് ആരും പൊറുക്കില്ല.) പക്ഷെ സ്നേഹവും അബ്യൂസും മാനസിക പ്രശ്നങ്ങളും ഒക്കെക്കൂടെ കൂട്ടിക്കുഴച്ചപ്പോള് അതിന്റെ ഗൗരവം പോയ പോലെ തോന്നി. പിന്നെ ഒമ്പത് ദിവസം ഇരുട്ടിലായാല് മനുഷ്യര് കലാപം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നതെന്തിനാ? കെടന്നൊറങ്ങാനുള്ളേന്!
Kumbalangi Nights
It is not a great film. The script is very loose. It gives you laughs so it is not intolerable but there is a weak script hiding behind the humour in there. The character of Fahadh Fazil - Shammi - there is a problem in the design of that character. It could have been in two ways. Shammi - whatever he does is abnormal because it is highly patriarchal and violent - from the beginning. But that was not done. It is shown that the family realize that he is mad when he binds them and physically assaults them. Or, the physical assault should have not been shown and then the family could realise that he is abnormal. Neither happened. But in Malayalam, this film is a hit and i love it because it said SO MUCH about patriarchy and still is a hit. It's not about rape but is about every day patriarchy at homes and that has been shown as ridiculous. Kudos to the writer and director for that. A more detailed write up in Malayalam here
True Story
The story about a New York Times journalist who loses his job because he did unethical reporting (he clubs stories of many victims and shows it as happened to one victim). The story was that of slavery in Mexico. Then there is this murderer who pretends to be him. Accused of murdering his wife and three children. It starts with this nice image of a suitcase - a little girl sleeping in it her teddy bear drops in slow motion. This suitcase is put in a river. It is followed to the mortuary. The murderer tries to tell 'his story' to the journalist. It's about how killers manipulate and journalists do the same etc. It's not a great film but i liked the image of the girl in a suitcase.
Awe
Very bad film but delighted that a friend edited it. People i know are all making films. It's a wonderful feeling. The one about time travel and shit. Nitya Menen is the lover of a woman. Terribly wrong concepts about homosexuality. Sex change operation etc. And it is not even well made or logically correct. It doesn't make any sense at all.
Gully Boy
Really liked it. Ever since Anand told me what montage in indian films really does, i can't see beyond it. I hate it every time people use unnecessary montages to escape storytelling. I used to do it too and now think i need to rethink. The film is about a rapper from Dharavi. As one of the notes on social media said, it is true that only people with resources like Zoya Akhtar can make films like this the way they want. Documentary filmmakers etc. struggle to find the means. This is why i need to get there.
Yesterday, at the theatre to watch 'Gully Boy', after the national anthem played, from a row behind me, a male voice shouted 'bharat mata ki' which was answered with 'jai'. Then he shouted 'Pakistan' which was answered by 'murdabad'. I have never stood during national anthem in theatres. And every time i sit during the song, i get a tingly feeling - because usually i am the only person sitting and also because i know that there will be 'bharat mata ki jai' folks in the hall. Yesterday they were just a row behind me. I really liked the film for a lot of reasons but i am really worried that movie going experience is changing. For when 'azadi' was sung in the film, when the protagonist offered Muslim prayers, put kohl in his eyes, wore a skull cap, i got that tingly feeling again and i knew it was coming from the awareness of who sat behind me. Modi has pumped a lot of new money into PR campaigns and at least five Modi promotional ads played on screen. During one where he was hailed as the protector of women, i wanted to boo but no sound escaped my throat. Usually in theatres, i only had to be prepared for groping. But yesterday, even in the comfort of a non-Muslim, non-Kashmiri identity, i was scared.
I love Alia Bhatt. Ranveer Singh too acted pretty well. The supporting role actor too.
Unforgettable
A very crappy film about a psycho ex wife taking revenge on ex-husband and current girlfriend who is a victim of domestic abuse. Shit i found on Netflix.
Dangerous Liaisons
Mentioned in 'Story'. Didn't like it much though. It is stated as an example of how a period film can relate to all generations. You look at the screen and see people having sex left right and centre and go 'oh this is us!' Probably why the film didn't appeal much to me. I mean using sex as a weapon - and Uma Thurman was raped in the film. Have to check and edit wikipedia. Okay they have got it right and it's rape.
Mississippi Burning
The film about two FBI agents investigating the murder of three civil rights activists. Two of them were white. One was black and all three were killed by a shoot off of Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. Police officers and plenty of others were involved. The film starts by showing us the murder. The killers including the officer following the car on a highway. The opening shot is telling. We immediately get to know this is about race.
The chase scene is also filmed in a peculiar manner. The mise-en-scene is apt. The car disappears in between for some time because of the geography. And we grow tense. We know something's going to go wrong.
Many films were made based on this story and this film had faced criticism for being inaccurate. It is true that it could have been better. The film is good though.
Tender Mercies
I didn't understand what is so great about this script or film. This one is also from the Story watching list. The tale of a recovering alcoholic marrying a single woman. The wikipedia article on the film is very well written and has a lot of stuff about meaning of the film etc. Like baptism, faith, the concept of family etc. Add to this the place where he says that his wife said she would give up singing after marriage but never did. This wife's daughter is the one who dies. But it didn't move me much. I like country music and listened to Don Williams after a long time after watching the film but other than that...don't know. Liked the part where he sings the song his daughter mentioned and we only see his back. It's really good.
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| Source: Wikipedia |
After Thoovaanathumbikal, i felt like watching more of Padmarajan. I picked 'Innale' the film starring Sobhana, Jayaram, Suresh Gopi and Sreevidya. The first thing i noticed is how beautiful Sreevidya is.
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| Sreevidya, the beauty |
Anyway just into 20 minutes of the film i noticed the following
1. The script is beautiful. Well written. Craft.
2. Padmarajan was too good for Malayalam cinema.
3. He should have been recognized along with Guru Dutt. Is it because he was mallu that it never happened? Adoor made crap films except for one or two and is a more national figure than Padmarajan. I can't understand why. Really, his craft was definitely way ahead of his time, definitely good even now. It's not possible to watch most Malayalam films released now and before without cringing at some dialogues or the entire screenplay. In here, Padmarajan's screenplay is as realistic as what some of the new directors are trying today 'Ee Ma Ou', 'Eeda' for example.
4. The dream sequence in the beginning
When played, for a while, it looks like the camera is tracking in and zooming out to make it look like she is not running. This is something i would like to copy. Usually it is done with close-ups in dramatic moments. This dream sequence - something i like very much in films - is really nicely done. I have not seen such a good dream sequence in Malayalam films actually.
I just realized that i had watched this film while in SRFTI as well. Also Innale and a bunch of other films by Padmarajan. From the earlier entry,
Brilliant.My own observation that 'past is the protagonist' in the film doesn't make any sense to me now. The beginning accident sequence is nicely done but i don't consider it something to be copied now. The dream sequence, however, impressed me this time too. This film is not as good as Thoovaanathumbikal. Script becomes loose half way through the film.
Allegorical about relationships. Past.
A woman who has relationships with two men.
Sexual jealousy of Jayaram and Suresh Gopi. The reason behind the prolonged kiss in the kitchen.
The dream sequence. No explanation to it. Yet evocative. Past is the protagonist. Aptly titled.
Things to copy: The opening sequence. The site of accident and rescue operations. People being pulled out of an upturned bus. Lit torches. Human power. Police. A good way to begin. Then cut to the whiteness of corpses.
On what basis was Jayaram cast and Sreevidya's son? [Never seen a more beautiful face than hers. May be Sweta Menon's] There is possessiveness for the mother also. It is all woven into the fabric with great care and ease at the same time.
A place where the brilliance of script is seen is with the Innocent, Lalitha episode where the photo Innocent shows is the one we see Jayaram try to take once.
Look at these frames in which the director is showing the isolated woman in a misty past. She can see nothing ahead or behind her and is in an island in the middle of nowhere. Simple and elegant.
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| Marooned in memory island - Innale Sobhana is almost invisible in this frame |
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| Innale - figures in the fog |
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| Innale - marooned in memory island |
Watching and re-watching seeing yourself grow in cinema - that's the only thing worth living for. That and love.
Prayaanam (1975)
Started watching from the beginning now. The debut of Padmarajan as script writer and also of Bharatan as director - Prayanam. The one in which a young woman is married to an old Brahmin who rapes her every night or so. Then there is a young man who comes back to his illam. His mother was a rebellious woman. She was the first woman to go to college from that areas. Inevitably her marriage is broken and the neglected child goes on to have sex with foreigners who ditch him for other men. He is now on a quest for sex or love which he finds in Lakshmi. The Brahmin husband sees them make out and drops Lakshmi back at her father's place, reminding the father and her that he had married her out of pity - so that Lakshmi's father who was also his teacher would be relieved of one of his female children. Female children in the house is a burden because they have to be married off and one needs to have the required dowry and money for other wedding stuff. But Lakshmi goes back. Promises to be a good girl. The old brahmin stops raping her because he has dignity. He doesn't want to sleep with a woman who slept with another man. Despite the promise, Lakshmi and Aravindan embrace each other when they see each other when the fireworks at the temple festival go off. (This reminded me of a scene from Kodiyetam - will have to watch it again to see how similar it is)
It's not a great film. Nor is the script great. Padmarajan was still in that stage where women wearing sleveless blouses, educated, speaking in English, playing cards with men can only have one meaning - a bad mother.
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| The mother in sleeveless blouse by Padmarajan |
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| Ignored childhood because of sleeveless card playing english speaking mother |
You can see it in these scenes. Have you noticed how there will always be one element in such situations to represent the 'real' culture of Kerala - in most cases, it is a domestic help. You can find him here too. He is for caring for the child ignored by the mother. Also to silently disapprove of what is happening - his helplessness increases the audience's hatred towards the woman who gave up the 'real' culture and tradition.
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| House help - the true tradition looking at the deplorable state of things in the house with the sleeveless card playing english speaking mother |
I didn't understand why Bharatan was given a State Award for best Art Direction for this film.
Itha Ivide Vare
Had watched this one too earlier and had forgotten. The one where Soman enters and asks Jayan, the boatperson to take him 'itha ivide vare'. This must be the second time Padmarajan wrote for the screen. I V Sasi directed the film. The script itself is not that great. Moreover, it lacked the expertise of Bharatan. Watching this film after 'Prayaanam' will serve well to demonstrate how the director's job can make and break a script.
This is the story in which Soman takes revenge on Madhu, who killed his father (Ummer) and mother (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) when he was just a child. He returns as a painter. A wealthy one. No one knows who is paying to buy his paintings. This is just one of the loose ends in the script. There is an entire story of Madhu and Sarada having an affair resulting in Jayabharati's birth. In birth, the mother dies.
Here too, Padmarajan can be seen nurturing his ridiculous ideas about women, chastity etc. Jayabharati's character is a kind of a rebel at that. So Soman has sex with her, hoping to impregnate her. Because that means that she 'nasikkaled'. Having sex only 'pezhappikkals' (spoil) the woman. Hoping she gets pregnant he tries to hint it to her asking if everything is all right. And she laughs him off. Even the second time, she has sex with him because she likes it. She also asks him to fuck off when he offers to 'protect' her. It was a delight watching her make this man go mad. :D
Wikipedia says this was Padmarajan's first successful script. Which means that 'Prayaanam' was a flop? And why was this film so successful? I liked the song - Entho Etho Enganeyo. Ente Manassiloraalasyam. Nice word aalasyam.
I am eager to look at the women Padmarajan created.
Rathinirvedam (1978)
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| Some title cards |
Again, Padmarajan's script. He also wrote a novel by the same name. Bharatan's direction. If at all someone else had to direct Padmarajan's films, it had to be Bharatan. Not anyone else. I have not watched the one by Sethumadhavan. But still, Bharatan's understanding of Padmarajan's plot, characters etc is the closest it can get, i feel.
Pappu and Rathichechi story is a coming of age film. My only problem is the Rathi dies in the end. Don't see why that was necessary at all. It does have elements that were explicitly meant and filmed to arouse the malayalee male audience. Even then, it is not a bad film. It is not porn. It is not misogynistic. I mean compare this film withe kind of crap that comes to theatres these days in Malayalam - it was really much better then. Jayabharati must have become or been a sex icon with this. Many scenes and shots designed to accentuate her curves and body in general. Those pointy bras of the time...
Even from the trailer it was evident that the remake with Swetha Menon was CRAP.
K P A C Lalitha and Kaviyoor Ponnamma are their young selves. Lalitha married to Soman. Pappu's father is absent. Wikipedia says Director Bharathan had proposed actress K.P.A.C. Lalitha after the shooting of this film.[5] They remained together till the death of the former. I went 'awww' on this one of course.
The Clovehitch Killer
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| By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59173065 |
Pretty good one. With son finding out about father. Confronting. Him destroying evidence etc. But felt it lacked something. Don't know what.
Chinatown
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| Source: wikipedia |
When i shared my synopsis (of the screenplay i am working on, right now) my professor from SRFTI asked me if i had watched Chinatown. She was reminded of it, she said. When she narrated the beginning of the film, i remembered that i had watched it. But could not remember what i felt about it. Anyway watched the film again as it is often mentioned in the book i am reading now 'Story'.
So i realised that it's a Polanski film. I am a polanski hater even before i learned about the rape allegations against him. Anyway. It's quite well made and everything and honestly is the best Polanski i have watched. Even then the film didn't affect me much. What was the point of it all i wonder. Also, i was somehow under the impression that it was black and white. Had forgotten that Jack Nicholson had done the lead role too. Maybe i am confusing this film with one of the film noir ones.
So now i will dig up what i wrote 3 years ago when i watched it for the first time.
'Didn't like it. So what happened to the woman who wanted to save her daughter from her rapist father? She dies and the father gets another daughter to rape. Her character has been portrayed 'loose' from the beginning. She herself sort of admits than she can only have short affairs with men. The detective who tries to bring out the scam is also ruined in the same way he is suggested to have been ruined in Chinatown and what's with the Chinese hatred. Was this before Americans made Russia/Muslims their enemies in films? It is a thriller but i can't stand so much violence against women. Jack Nicholson beating the woman up after sleeping with her. She says 'sister' 'daughter' 'sister' 'daughter' and he keeps on slapping her in the way all male abusers do. Terrifying.'
That holds even now, i guess. Really the film just gave that rapist another daughter to rape. What the hell.
Kramer Vs. Kramer
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Part of 'Story' reading. It's a well written, well made film. But i don't understand this. By the mother in the end, letting her son go, isn't it saying that women's liberation - as Mr. Kramer calls it once - is bullshit? But it's not that black and white and that's the beauty of the film too. The mother - the epitome of motherhood decides to leave her child twice in this film. And yet Meryl Streep's character is not one to hate. The film doesn't portray her that way. It also talks about a major problem - the career building man Vs. the woman who has to give up her career for family. Mrs. Kramer is someone who broke out of that. And this is presented as a valid reason. This is why we feel indignant when in court, the lawyer questions her asking if her husband ever beat her or her child, ever cheated on her etc. Trying to say that there was no valid reason for her to leave. In the court, her 'character' is also questioned as always and we get pissed with the lawyer. This is the right way to do things. Love it.
Oh god! I just read what Streep had to say about the shoot. Hoffman, the male lead sexually harassed her during the film. Not just her, see this:
Gail Strickland was first cast as Ted's neighbor Margaret, but departed after a week of filming (according to Columbia Pictures due to "artistic differences") and was replaced by Jane Alexander.[7] The truth was that Strickland was so intimidated by Hoffman while filming their scenes together that she developed a nervous stammer which made her lines unintelligible.[5] Strickland herself disputes this account, saying that she couldn't quickly memorize the improvised lines that Hoffman gave her, which agitated him and led to her firing two days later.[5]Yes, i do remember the wine glass scene. Not the slapping scene though. What bullshit of the 'grief of her fiance's death will help Streep. That too such a fine actor! Hollywood is really full of idiots i guess. Just like Mallu land.
Hoffman has been widely reported in different media to have harassed Streep during the making of the movie, and the two had a contentious working relationship as a result.[5][8] In a 1979 Time magazine interview, Streep claimed that Hoffman groped her breast on their first meeting.[9] The two actors battled over their characters, with Streep wanting to portray Joanna as more sympathetic and vulnerable than she was written.[5] As a famously committed method actor,[10] Hoffman would also hurl insults and obscenities at Streep, taunting her with the name of her recently deceased fiancé, John Cazale, to draw a better performance out of her.[11] He famously threw a wine glass against the wall without telling her (although he did inform the cameraman beforehand), which shattered and sent glass shards into her hair. Her response was: "Next time you do that, I'd appreciate you letting me know." [5]
In 2018 Streep told the New York Times that Hoffman had slapped her hard without warning while filming a scene: "...this was my first movie, and it was my first take in my first movie, and he just slapped me. And you see it in the movie. It was overstepping."[12]
Oh god. I just read Dustin Hoffman's page. After the Harvey Weinstein revelations, he was one of the people who were exposed. Terrifying allegations by many women. God.
Through a Glass Darkly - Bergman
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Was mentioned in 'Story' and i like Bergman anyway so watched. I felt that in the end what he is trying to say is that belief in god is necessary and that god is love, love definitely exists so god does too. I found it cute. Anyway this is the film in which Daughter, Son, Father, Daughter's husband+doctor stay near the sea, camping, fishing, holidayiing. The daughter is out of a mental hospital. Since she was give shock treatment, her hearing is now sharper. She hears more. What she hears is people. They are all waiting for god to come out of the wall. The son wants appreciation from father but he isn't getting any. He is incestuous. He tells his sister not to hug and kiss him. He looks at pictures of naked women. In the end they also have sex, i guess. Anyway the helicopter ambulance arrives in the end, the daughter is taken away and the son and father finally talk. The father is a writer, he wants to write something meaningful or something like that. Him being career oriented is not viewed kindly by the daughter and son. He chronicles his daughter's incurable disease hoping it will help him in his writing. He is ashamed of this because it would look like he was using her. (I don't see how it's bad). Anyway when the daughter finds it out, she is sad.
I felt that the characters of the husband and father are not fully developed. I liked the music. Just learned that it was Bach. I like Bach then. Wikipedia:
Through a Glass Darkly was released to positive reviews, specifically for Andersson's performance, and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was followed by Bergman's thematically related 1963 films Winter Light and The Silence.
I think i have watched Winter Light. Will have to see.
Minus is somewhat sexually frustrated, and Karin teases him, even more so after she discovers that he hides a men's magazine. Later, on the beach, when Karin sees that a storm is coming, she runs into a wrecked ship and huddles in fear. Minus goes to her and she seduces her brother.
Corrected this in Wikipedia. Also changed 'men's book' to porn magazine. How can one call porn magazine 'men's magazine'. What the hell that's so disrespectful to men and still they don't understand feminism. *head-hit-wall*
Bergman's relationship with his wife Käbi Laretei influenced the film, which is dedicated to her.
Yeah. How sweet. Had seen the dedication plate in the beginning. And yes, i don't understand why Karen did some sort of sexually suggestive acts during one of her delusional episodes. I didn't understand the point of incest too except that it was the highest point of love between the brother and sister. Karen does tell him that he is the only one who even understands her. I understand that.
The title of the film is taken from the 'love passage' in 1 Corinthians 13 from the bible.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
The mirror part came from Bergman making notes for this film in his diary. He was planning to meet and reconcile with his parents. Mother's name is Karin, i gather.
He imagined it as a three-act play, where the acts serve as "mirror panels," showing the same thing from different angles.[13]Apparently Bergman regretted saying God is love, love is god through this film. He felt that wasn't true. Faro island, the location was suggested to Bergman by his cinematographer. He used this location for many of his films. They test shot in colour, were unhappy with the result and stuck to black and white.
Some frames
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| For your lighthouse reference. Spilling of milk is something that does not fail to make an effect. Remember 'A short film about love' |
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| For future memes |
Aakaasadoothu
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| Source: Wikipedia |
കണ്ട ചെമ്മാനും ചെരുപ്പുകുത്തിക്കുമൊക്കെ അങ്ങനെ തോന്നും. എന്ന് പറയുന്ന നെടുമുടി വേണു. ജഗതിയുടെ കഥാപാത്രത്തെ അയാള് വിളിക്കുന്നത് തന്നെ ചെമ്മാനെന്നാണ്. അയാള് കള്ള് ഷാപ്പില് നിന്നും അച്ചന് ഇറങ്ങിവരുന്നത് കാണുമ്പോള് മാത്രമാണ് പേടിച്ച് നെടുമുടി വേണു അയാളെ പേര് വിളിക്കുന്നത്. അപ്പോഴാണ് അയാളുടെ പേര് ഗീവര്ഗീസ് മാത്യു എന്നാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാകുന്നത്. വേറാരും അയാളെ സിനിമയില് പേര് വിളിക്കുന്നില്ല. തട്ടിപ്പ് നടത്തുന്ന ഒരു പള്ളീലച്ചനാണ് അയാള്.
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| Caste slur in Aakaasadoothu |
Oh god i watched the whole film and cried and cried and cried. Afraid i'll get a headache because of the crying. It is a very well made film. Not lazy direction. Real effort has gone into making it. Like people paying attention to art direction - effort. Murali performance is just great in this. Really. The best i have seen him do. And this woman Madhavi. From November inte Nashtam i am a fan of her beauty. Nobody can get anymore beautiful.
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| Madhavi is so beautiful! |
The woman gets cancer. In the hospital when the testing of blood shots are shown we get to know that something is up. That should be avoided. Internal conversation with the nurse and doctor does increase anxiety and make it look good but it could have been better. Also since i am reading 'Story' now, noticing that the inciting incident happens really late in this film. At almost one hour.Till then the father's alcoholism is the problem is what audience think. Also unanswered questions - like the subplot of the murder of the father by the man who tries to rape Madhavi - it doesn't go anywhere. Nothing happens to the man who killed him. Sibi Malayil directed.
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| A frame to copy. The foreground should be made to look like a room. Large depth of field allows us to see everything. Only when camera pulls back do we see that it is a grotto or something else that is small in size. |
One more day she pleads to jesus christ but does not get that. I like it that god is portrayed as a villain here. Because i am an atheist and if even if people don't realise that there is no god, believing that the god they think exists is an asshole is an alternative i like. He he.
9
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| By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57082997 |
The Prithviraj film, Prithviraj productions film. He was seen saying that Ezra was a hit. Why was that film a hit. Whai! It was so stupid. Anyway this is the one in which he is an astro physicist. I was liking it so much thinking it was going to bring a nice science fiction or something. Now i am tempted to write a science fiction script. Anyway this one is mixing a lot of things together and the ending is just like Ezra.
എല്ലാവരും കുമ്പളങ്ങി കാണുന്ന ലോകത്ത് '9' കണ്ടതാണെന്റെ പരാജയം. മോശം സിനിമയൊന്നുമല്ല. എസ്രയുടെ ബാധ ഇതുവരെ പോകാത്തതെന്താണ്? അതൊരു നല്ല സിനിമ പോലുമല്ലായിരുന്നല്ലോ! ഒമ്പത് ദിവസത്തേയ്ക്ക് ഇലക്ട്രിസിറ്റി ഇല്ലാതായാല് വാട്ട്സാപ്പ് ഫേസ്ബുക്കൊക്കെ പോകും അപ്പോള് എല്ലാവരും മനുഷ്യരാകും എന്ന് ഒരു ആസ്ട്രോഫിസിസിറ്റ് അയ്യായിരം പേരുടെ മുമ്പില് നിന്ന് പറയാണ്. ഇങ്ങനെയൊക്കെ എഴുതുമ്പൊ എഴുതുന്നോര്ക്ക് നാണാവില്ലേ. അത് പോട്ടെ. പൃഥ്വിരാജിന്റെയല്ലേ പ്രൊഡക്ഷന് ഹൗസ് (ആമിര് ഖാന് ഫാനാണെന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു. ലോഗോ കണ്ടാലങ്ങനെ തോന്നും.) ആ ചെന്നായയെും ആകാശത്തെയുമൊക്കെ പോസ്റ്റില് ടെക്നോളജി ഒന്നുകൊണ്ട് മാത്രം ഒട്ടിച്ച് ചേര്ത്തട്ട് ഇങ്ങനെയൊക്കെ പറയാമോ! ആദ്യം ചൈല്ഡ് സെക്ഷ്വല് അബ്യൂസിന്റെ വാണിങ്ങ് കണ്ടപ്പൊ ഞാന് വിചാരിച്ചു അതായിരിക്കും സിനിമയുടെ കാതല് എന്ന്. കണ്ട് കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പൊ അത് സെക്ഷ്വല് അബ്യൂസല്ല, മെന്റല് ഇമോഷനല് അബ്യൂസ്, തല്ലുക എന്നതാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലായി. സംസാരിക്കേണ്ട വിഷയം തന്നെയാണ്. (അച്ഛനല്ല അമ്മയാണ് ഇത് ചെയ്യുന്നതെങ്കില് ആ സ്ത്രീയോട് ആരും പൊറുക്കില്ല.) പക്ഷെ സ്നേഹവും അബ്യൂസും മാനസിക പ്രശ്നങ്ങളും ഒക്കെക്കൂടെ കൂട്ടിക്കുഴച്ചപ്പോള് അതിന്റെ ഗൗരവം പോയ പോലെ തോന്നി. പിന്നെ ഒമ്പത് ദിവസം ഇരുട്ടിലായാല് മനുഷ്യര് കലാപം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നതെന്തിനാ? കെടന്നൊറങ്ങാനുള്ളേന്!
Kumbalangi Nights
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| Source: Wikipedia |
It is not a great film. The script is very loose. It gives you laughs so it is not intolerable but there is a weak script hiding behind the humour in there. The character of Fahadh Fazil - Shammi - there is a problem in the design of that character. It could have been in two ways. Shammi - whatever he does is abnormal because it is highly patriarchal and violent - from the beginning. But that was not done. It is shown that the family realize that he is mad when he binds them and physically assaults them. Or, the physical assault should have not been shown and then the family could realise that he is abnormal. Neither happened. But in Malayalam, this film is a hit and i love it because it said SO MUCH about patriarchy and still is a hit. It's not about rape but is about every day patriarchy at homes and that has been shown as ridiculous. Kudos to the writer and director for that. A more detailed write up in Malayalam here
True Story
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| Source: Wikipedia |
The story about a New York Times journalist who loses his job because he did unethical reporting (he clubs stories of many victims and shows it as happened to one victim). The story was that of slavery in Mexico. Then there is this murderer who pretends to be him. Accused of murdering his wife and three children. It starts with this nice image of a suitcase - a little girl sleeping in it her teddy bear drops in slow motion. This suitcase is put in a river. It is followed to the mortuary. The murderer tries to tell 'his story' to the journalist. It's about how killers manipulate and journalists do the same etc. It's not a great film but i liked the image of the girl in a suitcase.
Awe
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Very bad film but delighted that a friend edited it. People i know are all making films. It's a wonderful feeling. The one about time travel and shit. Nitya Menen is the lover of a woman. Terribly wrong concepts about homosexuality. Sex change operation etc. And it is not even well made or logically correct. It doesn't make any sense at all.
Gully Boy
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Really liked it. Ever since Anand told me what montage in indian films really does, i can't see beyond it. I hate it every time people use unnecessary montages to escape storytelling. I used to do it too and now think i need to rethink. The film is about a rapper from Dharavi. As one of the notes on social media said, it is true that only people with resources like Zoya Akhtar can make films like this the way they want. Documentary filmmakers etc. struggle to find the means. This is why i need to get there.
Yesterday, at the theatre to watch 'Gully Boy', after the national anthem played, from a row behind me, a male voice shouted 'bharat mata ki' which was answered with 'jai'. Then he shouted 'Pakistan' which was answered by 'murdabad'. I have never stood during national anthem in theatres. And every time i sit during the song, i get a tingly feeling - because usually i am the only person sitting and also because i know that there will be 'bharat mata ki jai' folks in the hall. Yesterday they were just a row behind me. I really liked the film for a lot of reasons but i am really worried that movie going experience is changing. For when 'azadi' was sung in the film, when the protagonist offered Muslim prayers, put kohl in his eyes, wore a skull cap, i got that tingly feeling again and i knew it was coming from the awareness of who sat behind me. Modi has pumped a lot of new money into PR campaigns and at least five Modi promotional ads played on screen. During one where he was hailed as the protector of women, i wanted to boo but no sound escaped my throat. Usually in theatres, i only had to be prepared for groping. But yesterday, even in the comfort of a non-Muslim, non-Kashmiri identity, i was scared.
I love Alia Bhatt. Ranveer Singh too acted pretty well. The supporting role actor too.
Unforgettable
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| Source: Wikipedia |
A very crappy film about a psycho ex wife taking revenge on ex-husband and current girlfriend who is a victim of domestic abuse. Shit i found on Netflix.
Dangerous Liaisons
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Mentioned in 'Story'. Didn't like it much though. It is stated as an example of how a period film can relate to all generations. You look at the screen and see people having sex left right and centre and go 'oh this is us!' Probably why the film didn't appeal much to me. I mean using sex as a weapon - and Uma Thurman was raped in the film. Have to check and edit wikipedia. Okay they have got it right and it's rape.
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| Nice frame - Dangerous Liaisons. The reflection on the ornate mirror looks like a painting |
Mississippi Burning
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| Source: Wikipedia |
The film about two FBI agents investigating the murder of three civil rights activists. Two of them were white. One was black and all three were killed by a shoot off of Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. Police officers and plenty of others were involved. The film starts by showing us the murder. The killers including the officer following the car on a highway. The opening shot is telling. We immediately get to know this is about race.
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| MIssissippi Burning opening shot |
The chase scene is also filmed in a peculiar manner. The mise-en-scene is apt. The car disappears in between for some time because of the geography. And we grow tense. We know something's going to go wrong.
Many films were made based on this story and this film had faced criticism for being inaccurate. It is true that it could have been better. The film is good though.
Tender Mercies
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| Source: Wikipedia |
I didn't understand what is so great about this script or film. This one is also from the Story watching list. The tale of a recovering alcoholic marrying a single woman. The wikipedia article on the film is very well written and has a lot of stuff about meaning of the film etc. Like baptism, faith, the concept of family etc. Add to this the place where he says that his wife said she would give up singing after marriage but never did. This wife's daughter is the one who dies. But it didn't move me much. I like country music and listened to Don Williams after a long time after watching the film but other than that...don't know. Liked the part where he sings the song his daughter mentioned and we only see his back. It's really good.
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