03 Nov 2023
It's almost curtains on Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, and boy, has it been one hell of a ride. With a stellar line-up of movies from across the globe spanning 14 categories, you best believe that our watchlist was packed with films we just had to catch. Curating such a line-up is no easy feat, and Deepti DCunha, the Artistic Director - Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, gave us insight into what went into the herculean effort of putting it all together. She says, "We are proud to achieve a diverse curation in the South Asia section. The curation boasts over 40 World Premieres, 45 Asia Premieres, and 70+ South Asia Premieres, with a record-breaking number of 1000+ submissions for the South Asia programme. This was possible through our in-house expert in international cinema, Anu Rangachar, selection committees dedicated to world cinema, South Asian cinema features and non-features, experts from their fields of programming, and with support from our consultants, who have been festival professionals for years at major international film festivals." From the 250-odd movies, we decided to list down the movies that we loved and the ones that you need to watch if you haven't already.
1. Strange Way of Life by Pedro Almodóvar
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A queer Western starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, Almodóvar's Strange Way of Life is a take on subdued masculinity with Pascal playing Silva, an open and vulnerable individual reuniting with his soulmate, Jake, played by Ethan Hawke, who is hardened by life and closed off. What ensues is a reunion (or not) between the two men marred by a tragedy.
2. The Buckingham Murders by Hansal Mehta
Hansal Mehta's crime thriller drama stars Kareena Kapoor Khan in a gritty role, unlike many of the movies she has done before. Khan essays the role of a British-Indian detective and grieving mother who has recently lost her child. Exploring the themes of loss, closure and the experiences of immigrants, the movie encapsulates a mother's pain and anguish. The movie first premiered at the 67th BFI London Film Festival before being the inaugural movie at MAMI.
3. Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet
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A court drama-thriller that hooked us was Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet. Winner of the Palme d'Or and the Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival, the French movie has won quite a few accolades this year and for good reason, too. It is a slow-burn, but the movie follows the story of marital discord between a husband and a wife, which turns into a nightmare and the sole witness of it all is their blind son.
4. While We Watched by Vinay Shukla
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If there's one thing about this observer-centric documentary, it is that it most likely is going to have a lot of trouble finding distributors, given that it targets a very sensitive issue. Shot over a period of two years, the documentary follows journalist Ravish Kumar, who goes against a right-wing media ecosystem and tries to keep the walls from caving in on his show. Having faced multiple issues with censorship due to his dissent towards populist media and the population's extreme rightward-leaning views, the doc takes a deep dive into Kumar's struggles to be the voice of reason on primetime television. This one definitely is a reality check.
5. All India Rank by Varun Grover
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Much like the boomers of India who are obsessed with inroads into the mecca of engineering, IIT, 17-year-old Vivek finds himself en route to Kota to prepare for the holy grail of Indian competitive examinations at the behest of his parents, who view it as a ticket to success. The brainchild of Varun Grover, this dramedy sheds light on how kids in India are the medium to achieve their parents' dreams.
6. Monster by Hirokazu Kore-eda
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A child whose behaviour has changed drastically, a frantic mother, and a teacher who is in the centre of it all. Kore-eda's Monster narrates a story with shifting perspectives as a mother tries to figure out the reason behind her child's malady. Each layer of the story is heartbreaking, and it's advisable to keep tissues at hand.
7. Maestro by Bradley Cooper
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Maestro not only boasts of a stellar cast featuring Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Strong, Matt Bomer and more but is also directed by Bradley Cooper (who stars in it) and produced by Martin Scorsese. The movie follows the real-life relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife, Felicia Montealegre Bernstein.
8. Priscilla by Sofia Coppola
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After Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, it's Sofia Coppola's Priscilla that has got people's tongues wagging. Based on the memoir "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Presley herself, the story follows the courtship between the King of Rock n Roll and his young bride, Priscilla. Played by Caillee Spaeney (Priscilla) and Jacob Elordi (Elvis), it does show Elvis in a different light (mainly as a 26-year-old dating a 14-year-old) and narrates the story from Priscilla's perspective.
9. Agra by Kanu Behl
Kanu Behl's second feature targets patriarchy at its core. Taking a deep dive into the topic of sexual repression and India's reality of it, Agra poses some serious questions. The movie tells the story of Guru, a young man plagued with frustration that manifests in the worst ways possible.
10. Berlin by Atul Sabharwal
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Starring Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh in the lead, Atul Sabharwal's Berlin weaves a story about a deaf and mute man who is accused of being a spy and is arrested. The arrival of a sign language interpreter, however, changes things completely.
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