Category: Movie Reviews

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this blog post, finding it a bit challenging to articulate my thoughts. The topic is a bit unclear in my mind, and I believe putting it into words might provide some clarity and help me see the bigger picture.

The comprehension and identification of gender prove to be intricate and demanding. I find myself unsure about the suitable terms, considering the diversity that exists. Several key factors come into play, including variations in chromosomes, sex organs, hormones, physiology, and environmental influences. Collectively, these elements determine an individual’s gender identity, challenging the notion of defining someone solely based on their birth.

Truth be told, my understanding of gender diversity was confined to the binary until a decade ago, when I first stumbled upon the concept of transgender. Initially, I hesitated to engage in conversations, perhaps fearing my lack of comprehension and falling short of acknowledging their shared humanity. Even though I follow various individuals from the transgender community online, I’ve come to realize that truly grasping their feelings still feels out of reach to me.

It’s important to remember that we can’t fully understand someone unless we try to see things from their perspective. This is especially true for transgender individuals who experience the world in a way that differs from our own. Over the past decade, there has been a growing awareness and acceptance of the transgender community.

Recently, in my pursuit of understanding, I’ve immersed myself in movies and series that portray diverse experiences, including “Sex Education,” “Super Deluxe,” “Made in Heaven,” and “Kaathal the Core, etc.” Across these narratives, a common thread emerges, the portrayed characters are struggling to comprehend and define their own identities.

These movies and series are helping me to break down barriers and help in understanding; however, there is still a long way to go. And also, in the realm of LGBTQ+ rights, certain countries have made substantial progress, embracing change and inclusivity. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals can differ significantly, even within a single country.

In India, where same-sex marriage is not yet legal, cultural influences play a significant role in shaping social attitudes. As I watch these films and series, I wonder if the emotions portrayed represent feelings that have been suppressed for generations.

Perhaps it will take a considerable amount of time for the acceptance and legalization of differences in certain places. Especially when there are already challenges to accepting heterosexual unions from different religions, introducing same-sex relationships into the equation may face even greater hurdles. The journey toward acceptance is undoubtedly complex and may require patience and persistent efforts. It leaves me wondering how many individuals like Matthew are out there, not just in India but worldwide.

I’m not here to pass judgment or criticize anyone; rather, I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more about diverse experiences and perspectives. Perhaps having friends like Eric or Fabiola would provide me with a deeper understanding and insight into these experiences. It has challenged my assumptions, broadened my perspective, and ignited a passion for learning and understanding. While the journey continues, I am committed to embracing open-mindedness and actively contributing to a world that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

Cheers!

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turtles all the way down!

Sunandhini R

Before all the pandemic stuff, I wasn’t really into movies. Yeah, I’d hit up the movie theater every now and then, catch a flick—you know the drill. But who would’ve thought that this whole movie thing would turn into a whole new adventure for me? It’s like I stumbled upon a treasure chest of storytelling that I never really paid attention to before.

Back in the good old days before COVID, my movie journey was pretty much Tamil, Malayalam, a few Hindi, and English movies. that’s about it. I wasn’t really digging too deep into the movie world, just dipping my toes here and there.

Then came the pandemic, and there I was, chilling in my little place with not much to do. I started watching those fun reality shows from way back when, you know, the ones that give you a good laugh. But then a buddy of mine swoops in with some movie recommendations, like “Badhaai Ho,” “Chhichhore,” “Dia,” “Dream Girl,” “The Girl Next Door,” and even some classics that were older than my grandma. I’m thinking, “Alright, let’s give these a shot.

And holy smokes, that’s when the whole game changed. Suddenly, I’m not just watching these movies; I’m diving headfirst into their worlds. I’m paying attention to the plot twists, the cool dialogues, the music that hits you right in the heart, and those scenes that make you feel like you’re right there with the characters. It’s like I’m on a movie marathon, binge-watching like there’s no tomorrow.

What’s crazy is how these movies were totally different from the usual stuff I’d seen before. They had these wild storylines that took me to places I never even imagined. It was like peeking through a secret door into a whole new universe that I never knew existed.

I’m not exactly a global movie buff, but I’ve got a taste for Hollywood, Indian, French, Chinese, Thai, and even Korean and Japanese films. And let me tell you, it’s like a burst of happiness hit me when I started exploring movies from all these different corners of the world. It’s like a shot of dopamine for my curiosity.

It’s really cool how some movies take you into completely different cultures. Just imagine: the main character decides to move to a new place, and all of a sudden, you’re right there experiencing the vibe and way of life of that place. Think about movies like “Into the Wild,” “Emily in Paris,” “Perfect Pairing,” “Queen,” “Falling Inn Love,” and a bunch of others (you know, the ones that are almost at the tip of your tongue but not quite). It’s like finding a hidden treasure chest filled with all kinds of different cultures and exciting stories.

Certain movies have played a crucial role in shattering stereotypes, while others have bravely tackled taboo subjects. I’ve come across films that opened my eyes to the fact that some issues aren’t as monumental as they might seem, urging me to view them from a different angle. Titles like “Sex Education,” “Sky Castle,” “Aruvi,” “Piku,” “Super Deluxe,” and “Modern Love” have been particularly impactful in this regard.

Several movies have played a significant role in deepening my understanding of trauma and addressing societal issues. Films like “Beef,” “Tamasha,” “Dear Zindagi,” “The Great Hypnotist,” “Kill Me, Heal Me,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” and “It’s Okay, That’s Love” have been powerful tools in shedding light on these important subjects.

There were instances when I experienced deep emotional lows, causing me to question whether I was the only person undergoing such hardships in the world. During these contemplative moments, specific series such as “My Mister,” “Liberation Notes,” and the impactful film “Parasite” emerged as sources of solace. Collectively, these narratives illuminated the fact that although my struggles were deeply personal, they were not singular, thus dispelling my feelings of isolation and reaffirming a profound connection to the broader human experience.

Back in the day, I’ll admit I was a bit naive. But you know what they say – life isn’t just rainbows and sunshine. It was these shows that truly opened my eyes to the shades of gray in people’s characters. From the glitzy world of “Celebrity” to the intriguing dynamics of “Mukuthan Unni Associates,” the gripping twists in “World of Married,” and the intriguing choices in “The Menu,” – they all hit home a powerful message: people aren’t always what they seem.

Some movies really capture the heart of what it means to be a woman. Like in “Aval Apdithan” and “Kalyana Agathigal,” they dive deep into women’s lives, showing all the ups and downs they go through. Then there’s “Queen,” where the main character goes on this big journey of finding herself, and “The Intern,” is all about how different generations connect. “Magalri Mattum” and “Iravi” also add their own spin to this theme. These films paint a vivid picture of what it’s like to be a woman, making you really feel their stories.

Specific movies hold a remarkable capacity to kindle my imagination and infuse life with hope. Works like “Tenet,” “Inception,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Chef,” “Good Will Hunting,” and “The Shawshank Redemption” possess the unique ability to transport me to uncharted realms of possibility. Through their captivating narratives, they awaken a sense of wonder, nurturing my capacity to dream and cultivate optimism for the future.

Some shows work wonders in helping me unwind, acting like a delightful dessert after a demanding day. I find relaxation in watching a few episodes of well-loved series such as “The Big Bang Theory,” “Young Sheldon,” “Friends,” “Suits,” and few old Tamil movies (“Mouna Ragam,” “Minnale,” “Suriyavasam.” etc) These shows create a cozy atmosphere, enabling me to escape into their familiar and comforting worlds, providing a much-needed respite for my mind.

Countless movies spring to mind that I’d love to reference, yet they seem to slip my memory as I put pen to paper. It’s intriguing to ponder how my perspective on these films might have diverged if I had been born in a Western country rather than my small Indian hometown. Equally captivating is the thought of how my outlook would differ had I grown up in a remote and less-exposed place where access to cinema was limited. Our origins undeniably shape the lens through which we view the captivating world of movies and their narratives.

When our perspectives, opinions, and beliefs are molded by a confined circle of individuals, societal norms, and limited exposure, it raises an important question: how can we confidently determine what is right or wrong?

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“My Mister/My Ahjussi” is one of the best series or dramas I have seen. It is written by one of my favorite writer. This is not from a random K-pop fan and it’s not a rom-com. Trust me, My Mister is a slice of life that includes poverty, work, kindness, love, marriage, infidelity, family, friends, greed, mentorship, etc.

The plot revolves around a collision between a man (Doog Hoon) in his forties carrying his weights and a woman (Ji an) in her twenties. It has sixteen episodes. It’s definitely worth the time.

Doog Hoon works for a construction company, is married to a lawyer, and has a son. He lives a normal, mundane life according to his principles. He has two dependent elder brothers and a mother. A bunch of neighborhood friends accompanies them to morning football matches and late-night drinks. He is unaware of his wife’s infidelity. Ji works as an assistant in the same organization. Her parents abandoned her with a mountain of debt and a deaf and dumb grandmother to care for.

The story centres around these two main characters and how they help each other grow as happy people. Their relationship cannot be classified as love, mentorship, respect, elder-younger, or anything else. I honestly don’t understand it, but I adore it. I’m not here to narrate the entire screenplay, but a few lines or scripts have left an indelible impression on me.

"All humans are bound to see things that they desire. They end up searching for the things that they want to see within themselves in the outside world. If your heart is good then you won’t see a single thing that you hate in this world."

"Life, in a way, is a struggle between internal and external forces, too. No matter what happens, you'll be able to withstand anything if you have sufficient internal forces."

"You are the one to decide. If you consider it to be 
no big deal, then it is no big deal."

"All right, let’s do it. All right, let’s do it! Let’s see this through until the end! Let’s just see how far I can go. I’m curious, too… to see just what I will do when I am completely ruined. And what kind of person I will become. Let’s do it."

"It’s difficult to be around a person who saw you so vulnerable."

"It’s easy for people who have money to become good people." 

"The thing about human beings is... they live their entire lives in fear that they'll become failures. At first, I was truly happy that Director Park had become a failure. Because Director Park seemed to be fine... despite having failed, it made me think, "it's okay to fail." :"it's nothing, really." "you can still be happy."

"Everyone struggles for their whole life trying to have things. So they live their entire lives trying to prove themselves to everyone. But nobody truly knows what they are gaining by doing that."

"I'm so sick of this world filled with people who all act like they're amazing."

"So why did you have to go to such lengths to dig out someone's painful past? Isn't it only humane to try and let others forget about their past as much as we want to forget our own?" 

"The world was filled with stories of people cheating on each other. But when it became my own story, I can't describe it."

"Sometimes I wish I could just have it displayed on the LED billboards for everyone in the world to see instead of living in such fear for the rest of my life."

"I’m going to go to your grandmother’s funeral and you should come to my mother’s funeral. It’s not going to be an awkward and uncomfortable relationship, even if we see each other later on, let’s be able to greet each other warmly and be able to act like we know one another, let’s do that."

"The mere fact that there's someone cheering me on like that helps me breathe."

You can watch it here.

Cheers.!

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turtles all the way down!

Sunandhini R

This is the title of a south Indian movie that was released on July 2022. I have seen quite a lot of movies and read articles about rape, sexual harassment, molestation, gender violence, etc., We know that a lot of incidents are taking place every second and then. When there is such an incident, people talk about the physical pain that the victim has gone through and rarely about the psychological aspects.

The movie focuses on the main character led by a woman (named Gargi) who takes an aside with one of the abusers of child rape. Gargi is working as a school teacher born into a middle-class family and got settled in Chennai. She has a younger sister who goes to school and her mother is a housewife.

The story begins when her father (aged around 60) goes missing on the same day when six people who raped a minor girl were arrested. She insists her mother keep her younger sister safe as she is of the same age as the victim. Meanwhile, she searches for her missing father. Her father was arrested as one of the abusers and she believes it to be a mistake as he is a worker in the crime spot. Before she could try to understand, things ended up in court. She stands with him, believes him, and fights for him.

She recalls how she was molested by one of her school teachers during childhood. Her father stood all by her and taught her to be brave and retaliate when things go bad. All memories gave her strong grounds to battle against the false accusation made against her father. This is how everyone out there reacts when it’s pointed to the family.

Though the movie contains a lot of court and police scenes, crime spots, and some hard visuals of child abuse yet it brings out the psychological aspects of the victim’s and the abuser’s family who goes through much pain. Gargi finds out that even her father was one among them while collecting evidence to prove her father innocent. And at the last, Gargi acts morally and makes sure that justice is being served even though she ended up losing.

The main lead did her part so well and it feels like you’re walking through her parts of life. Though most of the reports and articles say that child abusers are friends, family members, neighbors and its hard to find until the child opens up. It’s not easy for them to forget and heal their traumas irrespective of gender.

This movie created a huge impact on me and the family was given more importance than the gender stereotype which was thought-provoking. It’s kind of a hard-hitting and moderate thriller movie. However, it slaps you with the question “What if that was your father or one of your family members?

PS: Watch it here.

Cheers !

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turtles all the way down!

Sunandhini R