MAMI 2013: Day 4

Another very satisfying day. On the film watching front there was 1 film that failed to meet my expectations, one that exceeded them and one that was achingly good. I also spent one session watching & discussing short films by young Afghan filmmakers.

The Nun (La Religieuse)
Language: French
Director: Guillaume Nicloux

Set in late 17th century 'The Nun' is a period piece though it isn't an epic. It is an intimate account of a 17 year old girl Suzanne who's coerced into becoming a nun to atone for her mother's sins as she's an illegitimate child. What follows is a tale of corruption & discrimination under the roof that preaches that God created everyone equal.

I really liked the portrayal of the protagonist's fighting spirit. She's against the church though not against religion. against discrimination but not the institution itself. The treatment thankfully isn't loud or sensational like some other films revolving around similar subjects often incorporate.

That said the pacing is languid & quite frankly this is not something I haven't seen before. Watch it if you have an appetite for serious drama as there are hardly any laughs here. Strictly average.



Katiyabaaz (Powerless)
Language: Hindi & English
Director: Deepti Kakkar & Fahad Mustafa

Summary: In Kanpur, India, Loha Singh is the local robin-hood, stealing electricity so that homes and businesses could function normally in the face of day-long power-cuts. Meanwhile the first female chief of the electricity supply company has vowed to rid the town of illegal connections and increase supply. In a summer of crisis, sparks will fly

Fantastic documentary! Went in with low expectations but came out having watched one of the most delightful Indian documentary I've seen.

This film is a live wire (no pun intended), take all your inhibitions & preconceived notions about documentaries being boring like a history lesson & toss them in the bin. This film had me riveted throughout. Loha Singh is one of the most colourful personalities I've ever seen in any kind of cinema. Throw in a pastiche of North India & a vivacious soundtrack by Indian Ocean & Varun Grover & you have a complete package. Must must must watch hai yeh toh.

P.S:- In the first few minutes I felt the movie looked too 'polished' for a documentary but by the end it ended up as a boon that set it apart from the numerous other docus.

The Past (Le Passe)
Language: French (Some Persian)
Director: Asghar Farhadi

This again is one of those films that I'd love to do a longer post on sometime in the future simply because there is so much to say.

Shorter version-This is excellent cinema.

Director Asghar Frhadi  establishes his Mis en scene so absorbingly that it is hard not to get drawn in & stay with these characters.

This film's story is the aftermath of events that have set forth a chain of actions, hence the title.

Typical of Farhadi's style the film has lots of subtext, with elements such as the use of mirrors, rain & presence of children as observers. Each scene unfolds with astonishing attention to detail.

 Nothing makes me happier than a film that I can enjoy both on a plot/story level as well as on a subliminal level. Such gems are rare & Farhadi's Le Passe is one of them.


I spent the afternoon session watching a bunch of short films made by comtemporary Afghan directors on various topics. The pick of the lot was Mahbooba Ibrahimi's documentary 'Driving Test (Permis De Conduire)' about a young Afghan woman cab driver, it's a spunky slice of life piece despite it's serious connotations & 'A Time Called Oldness (Zamaane Banaam Peeri)' by Hamid Alizadeh about an old shopkeeper who loves to collect antique radios & TV sets. I had a chance to speak with Alizadeh, he told me that the young generation of Afghan filmmakers want to make films on subjects other than war, to show the world there's more to Afghanistan than what is perceived to be a ruined civilization.