BIFFES 2017

FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS :

Director:MitraFarahani

This movie happened by chance and some things are best just by chance.

Bahman Mohassen's chuckle is a mockery at you but you inadvertently laugh with him.... repeat frames of his chuckle and some sharp sound interplayed with brilliant screenplay will take a while to hit you hard between your eyes :) You carry the movie with you – provocative (interspersed with Mohassen's hearty phelgmy laugh!), his thoughts and socio-political views are ofcourse timeless. One thing i could stand up for and applaud (if i wasnt sick of standing up for no reason already through Biffes 2017) is his profound statement “I have never really seen such cowardly people.”, as he believes that he is witness to a degenerate generation

Its hard to say 'RIP Mohassen' (he might take an offence to wishing him peace in such disturbing times) but his spirit lives on.

THE LAST FAMILY 

Ostatnia Rodzina Director - Jan P. Matuszynski Poland / 2016 / Polish / 123 min.

Yet another artist (painter) and an extension of his eccentric self. 

For me this movie is a great example of how different people can live at peace with each other, said and heard many times the "mutual respect and harmony" but here is how. A sense of personal space and ofcourse oodles of creativity prevails. Family dynamics maybe a little too much for a society like ours to understand let alone accept. I could totally relate to the artist in how he reacts to situations – actually no reaction just pure pragmatism.

THE STUDENT 

(M)Uchenik Director - Kirill Serebrennikov Estonia / 2016 / Estonian|Russian / 118 min.

The clear distinction between extremism and normalcy. And how the two are swapped in the real world, the consequences of which is a stark reality too.

Love the lady who speaks sense, 'she'bang.

FLEMISH HEAVEN 

Le Ciel Flamand Director - Peter Monsaert Belgium / 2016 / Flemish / 112 min.

Are we capable of such sensitivity and humane behavior be it in how one investigative proceedings need happen where a brothel owner and her daughter are involved (not really how, she is treated like any other – and no fluff/hangups about being normal about it either), amazing mother-daughter relationship.

A quiet strong movie about the quiet strength of an intelligent woman. Powerful movie.

PERSONAL AFFAIRS 

Omor Shakhsiya Director - Maha Haj Israel / 2016 / Arabic / 90 min.

Rich exquisitive yet light airy homes - That will keep you rapt while the characters emerge slowly. Contrasting characters that switch between the dramatic dancer duo, to a fading persona and a relationship therefore, to a character that walks into a fantasy.

WHITE BLESSING 

Director - Sengedorj Chanchivdorj Mongolia / 2016 / Mongolian / 104 min.

When you realise what freedom is all about at such a tender age, there is stopping a 'Dorje' from happening. If you loved Dangal or thought Dangal was all about Amir Khan then here's a movie thats a reckoning. Not to compare dangal with this, while Dangal is loud and falls short of passion this one takes you in and does not leave you behind.

Revelation after watching the movie : that fraction of a second that calls between the winner and the runner up is the difference between “doing it for yourself” and “doing for the society, country”. You win first and then maybe the others. Its truly a battle between 'you and the other'. Winners ought to be self aware.

REVELATIONS 

Director - Vijay Jayapal 2016 / Tamil | English / 118 min.

The rationale (for the mistakes?! committed) seem forced and comes late. I wish it was just a simple extra marital affair without having to justify it with impotency and a dead wife. Again vilifying  (to the extent : money laundering, loose character, liar etc) the queer co-worker was absolutely unnecessary while she sometimes talks sense – more than any other character. She says “Life is not all about sex” could've saved a marriage that is sexless therefore lifeless and could've saved the movie too!

And was the cameraman drunk ? some scenes sway like crazy before coming to a stand still – its very distracting and i sort of lost interest in the movie and became focussed on the camera work. There wasnt much in the movie to keep my interest anyways.

THE NARROW PATH 

Ottayaal Paatha 

Director - Satish Babusenan & Santosh Babusenan India / 2016 / Malayalam / 97 min.

I decided to watch the movie coz it was about "running away". There wasnt any such 'run away' drama but i wasnt very disappointed with the movie.

Sweet narration of a closed space drama that unfolds between father and son. Son who has aspirations and who is trying hard to reconcile with his dad, father who feels insecure about his relationship with his son and has given up hopes of ever being able to take the place of a doting mother.

Quite a dramatic end, creative albeit.