Earth Is Home - My thoughts on Alfonso Cuaron's 'Gravity'

'Gravity' blew my f*cking mind away!

To say that the film is extra ordinary would be doing it a disservice. It's mind-bending. Ever since cinema was invented there's been this pursuit of making the experience more immersive for the viewer, wanting to give them an almost first hand experience to make them feel the surroundings, situations and atmosphere that the characters on screen are feeling in the story. Alfonso Cuaron does this frighteningly well in Gravity.

So well in fact that watching these two astronauts repair a hubble space telescope in the acutely hostile vacuum of space thousands of kilometers high in the opening scenes I expected my ears to "pop" every time I swallowed. At multiple occasions as a character cart wheeled out of control I felt nauseous with a hint of vertigo. For about 90 minutes you the viewer is in space with the central characters. Every thrilling moment shall keep you on the edge. The use of 3D is spectacular, the visual effects (especially developed for this film) are absolutely breath taking, the sound design one of a kind. But I am not writing this to elaborate on those, there are innumerable reviews you'd find online which would do that for you.

I love it when any work of art reminds me how lucky we are to get to experience life, how if we took a few moments everyday to just look around and appreciate how we are a part of a meticulously structured universe which stretches far beyond our eyes can see, whose vastness knows no bounds probably we'd be much more thankful and humble. Gravity is a story of two astronauts lost in space where every breath is literally costing them their life. All they want is to get back home. Home is not a country, not a city, not a street. 'Home' in this context is the earth. Their yearning for breathable air and walkable ground made me think twice about how we take those commodities for granted. None of that technical wizardry would be of any merit if the film also didn't have a soul. which it does in plentiful. For a few minutes Gravity made me feel glad that we call the earth our home. Time and again while watching I was reminded of the fantastic Carl Sagan video of 'The Pale Blue Dot' (link below).

(Mild spoilers ahead)

A few scenes/images stuck in my mind from 'Gravity':-

After a staggering and violent struggle with the flowing debris in space when Sandra Bullock's character Ryan finally finds her way inside the space shuttle she takes off her space suit and curls up in a fetal position with the wires around giving the illusion of an umbilical cord (you see a glimpse of it in the trailer below at 01:44). It is a beautiful shot, and possibly signifies the 'rebirth' of Ryan after this close shave with death and/or how there is an innate innocence present in the emotion of human triumph or that the moment you find a safe haven it's reminiscent of the extreme safety and enclosure of a mother's womb.

Another image that fascinated me was when Ryan finds a picture of Jesus on top of the control panel of the Russian space station. The reason why it fascinates me is because our idea of God/Higher power/Supreme being has always been that He's "Up there" beyond the skies and the fact that these astronauts, these learned men & women of science who dare to go "Up there" also carry with them a sliver of faith even though science and religion are presented to be often at odds.

When Ryan is asked what is it that she loves about being in space she replies "The silence. I could get used to it", but later on in the film as she is stranded alone with absolutely no one to communicate with she desperately tries to make radio contact and finds a distorted Chinese signal of a man singing a lullaby to his dog. At that moment she tries in whatever way she can to communicate with this man, going as far as mimicking the dog. It's a heartbreaking moment reminding us that we're slaves to contact, to communication, to company.

There are many more that had an impact on me but for the rest I recommend you watch the film yourself and make your own deductions :)   

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P.S:- If you like 'Gravity' please read Ray Bradbury's short story 'Kaleidoscope'

Mumbai film fest: Day 4

On day 4, I was only able to squeeze in time for 1 film. But that 1 film was an experience I shall not forget for a very, very long time.


The Artist

Language: Silent film with English intertitles
Year: 2011
Director: Michael Hazanavicius


'The Artist' was the first time that I watched a silent film in a movie theater. It was an experience to behold. It made me feel like I had traveled back in time to the golden silent-era of Hollywood.


The film depicts a time period from 1927 to 1931 & is shot in pristine black & white. In these times of high definition colours, microscopic clarity & surround sound there is something trustworthy about a black & white silent film that makes us instantly connect with it. Every frame is so lovingly decorated that you just can't stop your heart from fluttering with joy. Even the screen aspect ratio is the classic 1:1:33 format. 

The story is that of a dashing & rather arrogant superstar George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin) of the pre-talkie era who is caught off guard by the arrival of sound in films. He dismisses it in the early stages ("If that's the future, then you can have it" is his snobbish reply to the producer). Obviously, he is proven wrong. Over the next few years, his roles dry up, he goes broke, ventures into directing but fails miserably, his wife leaves him & so do his palatial comforts.


Around the same time there's another star on the rise, the lovingly named Peppy Miller (Berinice Bolo) who was spotted by George & whom he had fallen in love with before her career went into an overdrive. She's known for a little beauty mark that Valentin penciled with love & care. 


So while Valentin goes down in the dumps & Peppy soars to the sky, would she remain loyal?


I guess you know the answer. Yes, it is the grand retelling of the quintessential 'fall of the artist' story, but the manner in which it is told makes all the difference in the world. One can see all the fondness & affection that Haznavicius has for the silent era burst out in tenderness & glory here.


Of course the acting is unparalleled. There are certain mannerisms which were so prominent in the actors of the silent era that are on full display here & leave you in magnificent awe. No wonder Dujardin won the best actor award at Cannes earlier this year (Not to mention even the adorable Jack Russell terrier in the film won the Palm dog award!)


In a silent film, the music are the words & Ludovic Bource does a terrific job of eliciting the desired emotions out of us.


'The Artist' is a film that is in a league of it's own. It's unfair to try & compare it with any other film that I've seen in the festival. It made me fall into a certain state of enchantment & reverie that no other film did. 


Somewhere along the way as technology advanced, the movies lost their soul. 'The Artist' resurrects that soul.