Packed with over 200 films from all over the world, with
great restored classics, new locations, MAMI this year seemed promising. (Even
in terms of their organization, which it wasn’t!) And despite the cancelled or
the housefull shows, going through Inox securities for numerous times or getting
frosty in NCPA’s grand Bhabha auditorium, I must say MAMI’12 was a great
experience.
Ofcourse it’s difficult to catch all the good films, many playing simultaneously across different screens. So here’s a pick of the best of all the ones I watched at the MAMI. The order isn’t indicative of any kind of rating whatsoever. French film has dominated MAMI over the years and though this year’s two anticipated biggies have been disappointing, quite a few French films have done well. Yet, MAMI has been quite a global experience.
Intelligent and deeply moving. Two orphan girls whose lives are intertwined about each other by love find themselves in conflict of interest over spirituality & reality. Insightful with terrific treatment and a mind-blowing ending. Beyond The Hills is a piece extra-ordinary film-making.
Worth watching:
In worth watching there were good films that, had they been a little better would’ve made it to the Top 10, in the sense that I’m still glad to have seen these films! Watch Liv & Ingmar for Liv Ullman speaking about everything that made her relation with the legendary director a beautiful love story.
Disappointments:
This year’s biggest disappointment has to be Rust & Bone by Jacques Audiard. One of the highly anticipated films before MAMI, Rust & Bone let down most of the film-enthusiasts and critiques alike. Another huge disappointment was the closing film of MAMI, Blacanieves which is the Spanish entry for Oscars. A supposedly homage to silent films, Blacanieves broke all the silent film rules except those of the sound & the aspect ratio and yet presented a weak script. Worst adaptation of Snow-white ever. And last big disappointment was another French film Augustine that charmingly tried to tell us something deep but floated on the surface and left us with nothing but good imagery and a good sex scene.
Missed out on:
Due to packed schedule and simultaneous screenings, there were quite a few that I had missed out on, which are on my immediate watchlist.
Electric Children, Beasts Of The Southern Wild, Children Of Sarajevo, No, Outrage Beyond and Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer.
Hope you all will find and watch the best of these soon! Season's greetings!
Ofcourse it’s difficult to catch all the good films, many playing simultaneously across different screens. So here’s a pick of the best of all the ones I watched at the MAMI. The order isn’t indicative of any kind of rating whatsoever. French film has dominated MAMI over the years and though this year’s two anticipated biggies have been disappointing, quite a few French films have done well. Yet, MAMI has been quite a global experience.
1. Dreamers
Noelle Deschamps’ directorial debut is a brilliant documentary about how screenwriters and film-makers go about ‘creation’. Her ensemble of 11 endowed film-makers include prominent writers like Guillermo Arriaga, Akiva Goldsman, also directors like Jacques Audiard, Michael Gondry etc that speak whole-heartedly about film-making. The last question has some brilliant responses!
Noelle Deschamps’ directorial debut is a brilliant documentary about how screenwriters and film-makers go about ‘creation’. Her ensemble of 11 endowed film-makers include prominent writers like Guillermo Arriaga, Akiva Goldsman, also directors like Jacques Audiard, Michael Gondry etc that speak whole-heartedly about film-making. The last question has some brilliant responses!
2. California Solo
A former rock artist who has long left his Scottish ways and settled down as a commoner with content in US has to confront his disturbed past when his citizenship is legally troubled. A light-hearted yet touching story which is painfully connected with the Britpop genre that hasn’t seen its glory in the modern days.
A former rock artist who has long left his Scottish ways and settled down as a commoner with content in US has to confront his disturbed past when his citizenship is legally troubled. A light-hearted yet touching story which is painfully connected with the Britpop genre that hasn’t seen its glory in the modern days.
3. Kauwboy
Beautiful. Just plain beautiful. An emotional yet brave 10 year old boy who connects with an abandoned jackdaw as he finds solace from his hot-tempered but caring father. One of THE best films of MAMI’12.
Beautiful. Just plain beautiful. An emotional yet brave 10 year old boy who connects with an abandoned jackdaw as he finds solace from his hot-tempered but caring father. One of THE best films of MAMI’12.
4. The Conformist
Bertolucci’s masterpiece based on Alberto Moravia’s novel, was one of the great classics screened at MAMI’12. Conforming to Fascism and then the post-war revolution, The Conformist tells us the life of a man trapped between his ideals and fear to do what is right, how power can easily reduce a weak man to comprise his principles and live along the profane side of sex & violence.
Bertolucci’s masterpiece based on Alberto Moravia’s novel, was one of the great classics screened at MAMI’12. Conforming to Fascism and then the post-war revolution, The Conformist tells us the life of a man trapped between his ideals and fear to do what is right, how power can easily reduce a weak man to comprise his principles and live along the profane side of sex & violence.
5. Something In The Air
One of the many directors of the brilliant Paris, je t'aime (2006), Olivier Assayas brings us another superb film. A young man’s journey about his wants and how he reacts to the social reforms of the 1960’s of Europe. It’s free-flowing, spontaneous and deep. A refreshing piece of cinema, it’s a must watch for any film-lover.
One of the many directors of the brilliant Paris, je t'aime (2006), Olivier Assayas brings us another superb film. A young man’s journey about his wants and how he reacts to the social reforms of the 1960’s of Europe. It’s free-flowing, spontaneous and deep. A refreshing piece of cinema, it’s a must watch for any film-lover.
6. D. Phalke’s silent films (Kaliya Mardan, Raja Harishchandra,
Lanka Dahan, Krishna Janma)
What. An. Experience! Magical. Accompanied by the talented Marathi musician
Kaushal Inamdar’s live orchestra, Dadasaheb Phalke’s films were a true
revelation. They are the pride of a country that is the biggest producer of
cinema in the entire world. It’s a lesson of history, a dose of old-school.
Watch it whenever you can!
 |
| Dadasaheb Phalke |
7. Amour
Amour is a film that everyone talks about, everyone is excited about, which has won a great deal of accolades (& awards), about which you’re worried if all the lining up in the queue will be worth and which doesn’t disappoint you. Michael Haneke has deservedly picked up his 2nd Palm d’Or for this disturbing, beautiful and heart-wrenching story of a couple that has grown old with each other. Love in its purest and most beautiful form. Easily the best French film at MAMI’12.
8. Beyond The Hills
Amour is a film that everyone talks about, everyone is excited about, which has won a great deal of accolades (& awards), about which you’re worried if all the lining up in the queue will be worth and which doesn’t disappoint you. Michael Haneke has deservedly picked up his 2nd Palm d’Or for this disturbing, beautiful and heart-wrenching story of a couple that has grown old with each other. Love in its purest and most beautiful form. Easily the best French film at MAMI’12.
8. Beyond The Hills
Intelligent and deeply moving. Two orphan girls whose lives are intertwined about each other by love find themselves in conflict of interest over spirituality & reality. Insightful with terrific treatment and a mind-blowing ending. Beyond The Hills is a piece extra-ordinary film-making.
9. Ship of Theseus
Ship of Theseus is one of the few Indian films that have a great global appeal. It explores different aspects of life through three diverse lives and brings a meaningful experience. It’s one of the films which you can forgive for it’s bad technicalities, for it moves you in a simple yet in an evocative way.
Ship of Theseus is one of the few Indian films that have a great global appeal. It explores different aspects of life through three diverse lives and brings a meaningful experience. It’s one of the films which you can forgive for it’s bad technicalities, for it moves you in a simple yet in an evocative way.
10. Holy Motors
MAD! Absolute mad film-making! Holy Motors was the bouncer that completely went over my head and yet I couldn’t stop myself from loving it! The film is wicked, phenomenal and doesn’t wait for you. It takes you inside its amazingly spun web of random-ish events and you’re left stunned! You cant toss down this spectacle.
MAD! Absolute mad film-making! Holy Motors was the bouncer that completely went over my head and yet I couldn’t stop myself from loving it! The film is wicked, phenomenal and doesn’t wait for you. It takes you inside its amazingly spun web of random-ish events and you’re left stunned! You cant toss down this spectacle.
Worth watching:
In worth watching there were good films that, had they been a little better would’ve made it to the Top 10, in the sense that I’m still glad to have seen these films! Watch Liv & Ingmar for Liv Ullman speaking about everything that made her relation with the legendary director a beautiful love story.
Disappointments:
This year’s biggest disappointment has to be Rust & Bone by Jacques Audiard. One of the highly anticipated films before MAMI, Rust & Bone let down most of the film-enthusiasts and critiques alike. Another huge disappointment was the closing film of MAMI, Blacanieves which is the Spanish entry for Oscars. A supposedly homage to silent films, Blacanieves broke all the silent film rules except those of the sound & the aspect ratio and yet presented a weak script. Worst adaptation of Snow-white ever. And last big disappointment was another French film Augustine that charmingly tried to tell us something deep but floated on the surface and left us with nothing but good imagery and a good sex scene.
Missed out on:
Due to packed schedule and simultaneous screenings, there were quite a few that I had missed out on, which are on my immediate watchlist.
Electric Children, Beasts Of The Southern Wild, Children Of Sarajevo, No, Outrage Beyond and Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer.
Hope you all will find and watch the best of these soon! Season's greetings!
