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jessamynit
Reviews
Kaali Khuhi (2020)
Surreal, creepy feminist tale shot beautifully
I had no idea what to expect from this movie, and it ended up being one of the most unique movies I think I've ever seen. Lots of reviewers are complaining about the plot (?? which was... clear and easy to follow to me?), but the fascinating part to me is that traditional plot structure felt less urgent and important than the devastating mood: the gray, dark tones; the slow realization that none of the adults are reliable, good people there to help; the outstanding acting of the tiny main actress (who was interesting to watch in every single frame); the use of color/ sun/ light in spare moments during the rest of the oppressive darkness and rain; the gorgeous cinematography (that popsicle drop in the well in the 2nd scene!)...
As a North American, I loved getting a peek into a unique side of Indian cinema, locations, moods, etc, that we don't usually see. It felt like watching the origin story, the creation of a Hindu goddess in her pain and struggle to do the right thing, as well as desire for revenge and balancing the scales. The intensity of the actors made me think I could've understood it even without the subtitles, and I forgot I was listening to Hindi at times as I read along.
Favorite moments were the body horror ghost womb (!!!), everything coming back to the well/ water, the p.o.v. of the girls running around the maze of the small town, and that beautiful/ jarring sequence with the sunlit sheet slapping us back into the cold rainy present.
This movie reminded me of the movie "mother!" by Aronofsky - you don't really know where you're standing at times, and are only given clues through color, sight, sounds, themes and characters' emotions - but more accessible. This is a movie about being a girl in the world, and as a daughter and mother, it moved me and will stick with me!!