My new favorite movie and a few other snippets
I can never have a favourite movie permanently. Sure - there are a few movies which I like a whole lot more than I do others, but I can never name a single favourite movie.
My current favourite is Majid Majidi's 'Children Of Heaven'. It's definitely one of the best films I have seen.
The story deals with the relationship between two pre teen siblings, and is held together by the theme of the children's desire to own a pair of new shoes.
Amazingly - that's the whole story : Two children yearning to own a pair of shoes.
But Majidi, along with the fantastic lead actors of the film - Amir Hashemi(as Ali) and Bahare Siddiqi(as Zahra) - manage to tell a tale of such simplicity with such beauty that it is just breathtaking.
The film shows the children coming up with a plan to cover up their loss of an old pair of shoes from their parents, who are hard up and cannot afford a new pair. Most of the film is about this plan, which eventually leads to a climatic sequence where Ali stands to make up for his loss of his sister's shoes.
The film makes use of a lot of close ups and tracking shots, which make the viewer feel part of the flow of the story. The excellent camerawork and intelligent editing all contribute to the smooth, almost lyrical flow of the story. The film does not aim at being a tear jerker - but as a viewer, you cannot help but connect to the pain and pleasure felt by the protagonists.
This is one of those films which make the viewer think about the complexity which humans infuse into life. The film is - in that sense - a study of human beings in the real sense.
If you inhabit this planet and care about the fact that you are human, this film is a must see.
------------------------------------------------------------
Visited the Pench Wildlife Santuary a few days back. What stood out in my mind after the visit was the sight of a bison in the wild. I have never seen such a picture of pure strength pass by. The animal was bristling with muscles and moved around with such obvious physical power that it was impossible not to feel a lot of respect for the fact that I was in a jeep and not facing it on foot.
I later read that these animals weigh more than a thousand kilograms and that they have no natural enemies. The latter part of the sentence means, of course, that they do have an unnatural enemy - humans. It's a hugely saddening thought that this magnificient species is at the brink of extiction today. All I could think of saying to the one which showed up in front of me was - to quote Ali G - 'Respect'.
My current favourite is Majid Majidi's 'Children Of Heaven'. It's definitely one of the best films I have seen. The story deals with the relationship between two pre teen siblings, and is held together by the theme of the children's desire to own a pair of new shoes.
Amazingly - that's the whole story : Two children yearning to own a pair of shoes.
But Majidi, along with the fantastic lead actors of the film - Amir Hashemi(as Ali) and Bahare Siddiqi(as Zahra) - manage to tell a tale of such simplicity with such beauty that it is just breathtaking.
The film shows the children coming up with a plan to cover up their loss of an old pair of shoes from their parents, who are hard up and cannot afford a new pair. Most of the film is about this plan, which eventually leads to a climatic sequence where Ali stands to make up for his loss of his sister's shoes.
The film makes use of a lot of close ups and tracking shots, which make the viewer feel part of the flow of the story. The excellent camerawork and intelligent editing all contribute to the smooth, almost lyrical flow of the story. The film does not aim at being a tear jerker - but as a viewer, you cannot help but connect to the pain and pleasure felt by the protagonists.
This is one of those films which make the viewer think about the complexity which humans infuse into life. The film is - in that sense - a study of human beings in the real sense.
If you inhabit this planet and care about the fact that you are human, this film is a must see.
------------------------------------------------------------
Visited the Pench Wildlife Santuary a few days back. What stood out in my mind after the visit was the sight of a bison in the wild. I have never seen such a picture of pure strength pass by. The animal was bristling with muscles and moved around with such obvious physical power that it was impossible not to feel a lot of respect for the fact that I was in a jeep and not facing it on foot.I later read that these animals weigh more than a thousand kilograms and that they have no natural enemies. The latter part of the sentence means, of course, that they do have an unnatural enemy - humans. It's a hugely saddening thought that this magnificient species is at the brink of extiction today. All I could think of saying to the one which showed up in front of me was - to quote Ali G - 'Respect'.
| Permalink | 
