Solace in Cinema

  Chanced upon this gem of a movie on Netflix. I am honestly so grateful that OTT platforms have made it easier to explore great films worldwide.. This Italian film, The Children’s Train , is easily one of the finest movies I have ever seen in recent years. I love stories from history, especially when they are told through cinema, but often these movies disappoint. This one, however, beautifully captures what really happened in the poorer parts of Italy and Europe immediately after World War II ended. I particularly loved how the film starts with a grown-up Amerigo receiving a call about his mother’s death. This opening immediately pulled me in, building curiosity about Amerigo’s story. As the film progresses, it gently generates tension and genuine interest by making us wonder which mother he is mourning and which life he eventually chose. Set just after World War II, The Children’s Train tells the story of young children from poor families in southern Italy who were sent north te...

Certain movies go beyond entertainment to inspire thoughtful introspection as well as emotional inspiration in their audience. The film "Mona Lisa Smile" created an emotional impact which led me to feel deep admiration towards its plot alongside the characters it portrayed. The film's exploration of female expectations during the 1950's continues to resonate today despite its historical setting making me ponder about current social expectations of women. The storyline tracks the desperate journey of Julia Roberts as Katherine Watson when she accepts a teaching position at Wellesley College. She enters the classroom with enthusiasm while demonstrating strong intentions to impact her students through teaching and inspiration. The institutional culture at Wellesley College surprises Katherine because the school focusses on preparing students for marriage rather than profession. The school demands that its intelligent female students view marriage to being an ideal spouse...

Have you ever thought about how beautiful life can be when you slow down and simply live each moment? We are often caught up chasing big dreams, major life events, or drastic changes, believing they will bring us happiness. But what if true happiness is already woven into our everyday lives, hidden in the smallest of routines? That’s exactly what Perfect Days made me feel. Directed by Wim Wenders, this film doesn’t follow a grand narrative or high-stakes drama. Instead, it beautifully captures the everyday life of Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, who goes about his days with a quiet rhythm and an ever-present, gentle smile. Nothing drastically changes in his life, and yet, there’s something deeply profound about watching him go through his simple routine. Hirayama wakes up at the same time every morning, folds his blanket neatly, waters his plants, listens to his favorite old songs on a cassette player, and heads to work. He cleans Tokyo’s public rest...

Movies are more than just entertainment; some make us laugh, some make us think, and others, like "The Worst Person in the World," linger in our hearts and minds long after the credits roll. This film gives us a beautiful, deep look into the life of Julie, a woman nearing thirty, as she navigates the twists and turns of love and self-discovery in Oslo. From the beginning, Julie's journey is one that many of us can relate to, especially if you're at a stage where you're still figuring out what you want from life. She starts her professional journey as a medical student, driven by ambition. However, she soon realizes that her heart isn't in it. This leads her from medicine to psychology and then to photography, showcasing a restless quest for a career that truly resonates with her. It's a struggle many of us face, that daunting question: "What am I really meant to do?" Then, there's her complicated love life. Julie first finds herself entangled...

Embark on a transformative journey with the siblings of an orthodox family in Bengaluru as they navigate the shifting tides of societal norms during the 1960-70's.  The Movie starts by depicting the nostalgic and charming setting of 1960s Bengaluru. As the suprabhatham plays on a retro radio, the audience is introduced to the Aachar family. Madhusudhan Aachar,  a PWD engineer, lives with his wife Savitri and their ten children. The family adheres to traditional gender roles, with Aachar aspiring for his sons to become engineers and his daughters to become homemakers. However when Madhusudhan Aachar suddenly passes away, the family is faced with a crisis. The responsibility of managing the household and taking care of the younger siblings falls on Suma's shoulders. Suma, who didn't receive much education and only completed 10th grade, now finds herself struggling to cope with the sudden changes in her life. The movie "Aachar & Co" successfully captures the nost...

In this film, "Saudi Vellakka", the portrayal of an aged woman's difficult situation is conveyed in a nuanced and restrained manner, allowing the audience to infer the extent of her suffering without explicitly showing it. This is a necessary storytelling choice to effectively communicate the gravity of a small court case that drags on for 13 years, which may seem trivial to some but has significant repercussions for the characters involved. Tharun Moorthy, in his second feature, is not interested in replicating the success of his breakthrough debut film "Operation Java", which became the first successful box office hit in Kerala theatres after the pandemic. Some filmmakers might prefer to repeat what they did in their successful first film, but Tharun Moorthy has chosen a different path for his second project. Unlike "Operation Java", which had a stylish, urban mood, "Saudi Vellakka" has a more grounded, performance-heavy storytelling approa...