Vidal Dcosta
A scene from “Boy.” (Photo: Whenua Films).
1. “Boy” — An indie film set in New Zealand that doesn’t get its due and an early outing by Māori filmmaker Taika Waititi. “Boy” is a bittersweet coming-of-age story centered around the titular character, who is a young boy with grandiose expectations of his absentee father, a deadbeat, no-good gang leader named Alamein (played by Waititi himself), only to realize that the man he’s put on a pedestal for so long and hyped up in his imagination is actually kind of a disappointment. The authentic storytelling, performances, and perfect balance of comedy with drama makes this a winner in my books.
2. “Monsoon Wedding” — From my favourite filmmaker Mira Nair comes a story of all that unravels at a great Indian wedding. From a wedding planner finding love with a house help, to the bride getting cold feet on the day of her arranged marriage, and a vile and disgusting family secret being made light of in the nick of time. The movie also sheds light on the consequences of outdated patriarchal practices, victim shaming, as well as the negative impact of extremely regressive conservative mindsets on the young women in a household that adheres to such mindsets without questioning the same out of fear of one’s cultural upbringing.
3. “Raavanan” — A larger than life retelling of the Indian epic “Ramayana,” the roles of the hero and villain are reversed in this Tamil movie. Viewers sympathise with the so-called antagonist Veera, a forest dweller who is fed up of injustice meted out upon his community by authority figures and is on the run from a police officer with grey shades to his character. Caught between this cat-and-mouse chase is the meek-looking but outspoken Ragini, who is married to the officer and who gradually becomes the object of Veera’s affection too while being held hostage by him.
4. “Rocketman” — A larger than life subject deserves a larger than life biopic and Rocketman effortlessly captures the trials and tribulations of musician Elton John. Taron Egerton infuses charm and also showcases a range with his performance as the troubled young Elton. Supporting cast too pack a punch, too. The talented young Jamie Bell stands out in his role of Elton’s long-time friend and lyricist Bernie Taupin. Taupin is by his side through thick and thin (P.S. The “Your Song” scene in particular is one that captivates and pulls at one’s heart strings). Engaging editing and costume design is yet another plus point.
5. “A Single Man” — Fashion designer Tom Ford made his directorial debut with this ambitious book to screen adaptation. And while this slow burn movie may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it must be noted that Colin Firth as the titular singular man delivers an Oscar worthy performance. The use of colour palettes to evoke emotion, and the stylish feel of this movie’s visuals and production design elevates it. The movie also offers a sensitive and tasteful depiction of ostracization of homosexuals in the 1960s. It delves into themes such as coping with grief upon the loss of a loved one. Spoilers — but the ending feels like a sucker punch to one’s heart after all that the lead character’s been through.
6. “Kiss of the Spider Woman” — Starring the late Raoul Julia and the late William Hurt, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” may appear slightly dated, but is simultaneously well ahead of its time. It depicts with regards to depicting the cruel socio-political climate which restricts the freedom of speech of individuals who voice out their displeasure against authoritative regimes. It also ostracizes the individuals who choose to identify as queer or transgender. Hurt’s performance garnered him praise. He was also one of the first actors to win an Oscar for playing an out-and-proud character on-screen.
7. “The Namesake” — An adaptation of the book by Jhumpa Lahiri, “The Namesake” documents the struggles of an Indian housewife struggling to fit in after moving to America to be with her husband, as well as later focusing on her millennial son’s similar struggle to belong and find/carve his own identity in the West. Every immigrant can identify with the characters in this bittersweet tale set in America, ‘the land of opportunity’ and Kal Penn certainly demonstrates his dramatic flair in this movie with a promising performance alongside stalwarts of the screen such as the late Irrfan Khan and Tabu.
8. “Pan’s Labyrinth” — A young girl takes on an egotistical and sadistic authoritarian general and war criminal in this gritty and dark tale that features elements of magical realism, gothic horror and loads of monstrous creatures. However, the film never veers from the harsh realities of life that one cannot even escape from in a fantasy world, no matter how hard they might try. The visual effects, particularly in the prosthetic and makeup department add to its allure.
9. “Raanjhanaa” — Not to be mistaken for a typical Bollywood mainstream romance, filmmaker Aanand L. Rai tackles problematic ‘romantic’ tropes and addresses toxic incel culture in “Raanjhanaa.” Dhanush, a main stay in South Indian cinema, also made his Hindi film debut in this. He chews the scenery up in every scene that he is in as the lead character, Kundan, a spurned and manipulative menace of a lover who refuses to let bygones be bygones and swears by the victim card. The soundtrack by AR Rahman is also a masterpiece in its own right.
10. “Bulbbul” — A mix of horror and social commentary, “Bulbbul” dissects the overwhelmingly anxiety-inducing, gruesome and graphically gory nature of a young bride’s life under the thumb of an abusive husband. If you wish to view such a frightening existence under patriarchial society through the lens of a woman herself, then “Bulbbul” comes highly recommended.
