warrior_rommel Reviews

The Big City (1963)

"Work! -An exercise in futility" - cried the slow monster of urban poverty

[10/10 · 16 November 2005]

Have u heard the Tracy Chapman song "Subcity" ?

"Thank You Mr President for Disregarding me!"

-Mahanagar (The Big City) carries the same vein of faceless struggle,only with infinitely more subtle nuances. The revolts of Madhobi against the trying times both at home and professionally,forced job seeking,uncomfortable but obvious rise to "the man (bread winner)in the house' status,the gradual acceptance of that by her family esp the patriarchal father-in-law and the final revolt for the sake of ideals- against the backdrop of a devastated Calcutta under the stream of refugees arriving daily from East-Pakistan------can't have a masterpiece better than that. Coupled to it her husband's vulnerability at being unemployed,he doesn't want but can't help feeling inferior to his wife whom he loves--each shade is crafted with poise and care of a virtuoso.Moreover Ray addresses the issue of reverse-racism,the agonies of a ill treated race manifest, when the Indian manager fires the Anglo Indian employee just because of her Anglo-Christian roots.The ending is almost philosophical in its expansive acceptance of one's fate and belief that some hope must be still left.Watch this movie to realize the angst of urban poverty in one of post-world war II history's most turbulent times.

Pather Panchali (1955)

Attention all panther panchali lovers

[10/10 · 7 September 2004]

If u have enjoyed panther panchali and the APu trilogy then try to catch his other masterpieces like Mahanagar (The Big City) -- about lower middle class struggle and how some manage 2 keep up their conscience despite hunger

Jalshaghar (The Music Room ) -- reminiscences of a noble lord amidst the decaying settings of his ancestral palace.Chobi Biswas one of Bengal's finest actors gives an electrifying performance of one lost in the nostalgia of lost grandeur

Agantuk (The Stranger) -- His last work.an absolute masterpiece in concept.An úncle' from past life suddenly appears in the life of a modern bengali home and he is immediately suspected of being con with uterior motives.City life makes us all wary of fellow human beings.how can one establish one's identity.witnesses can be conjured up ,records and passports can be faked. then how???

If u have enjoyed Panther Panchali the movie plz plz read the book.The writer Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhay was a philosophical penner and his novels are like Joyce's work with rich shades of emotions and no perceptible actions.u will luv the book.i am not sure if there are English standard versions available.I and some frnds are trying to translate.contact me 2 know about progress.

Aranyak or the forest saga is the writers favorite book where he explores man's relationship with nature.Rich in Imagery like Thomas Hardy. his only action book 'Chander Paahar '(Mountain of the Moon) is about a young bengali boy Shankar's adventure in the Richtersveld mountains of Africa with a gold prospector Portugeese called Diego Alvarez.A stunning children's classic with suspense and inspiration.comparable 2 the Moby Dick.

regards 2 all

Romit

Schindler's List (1993)

The Beauty of Life Beyond Horror

[9/10 · 5 September 2004]

Life goes on despite carnage and war! that is the overriding theme of the movie.During one of the darkest hour of human history despite brutality and holocaust ,a radiance of hope emerges from one of the least likely member of the human tribe.

That is reassuring!!

Spielberg masters his craft well to restore our faith in humanity.The black & white picture adds a sense of stark realism, authenticating the plot.The story of the German businessman Schindler is well known so its futile to repeat.His transformation from a war-profiteer to a saviour is miraculous yet heart-warming.Liam Neeson gives a memorable performance as Schindler.So does the brilliant Ben Kingsley as Ithzak Stern.Who can say that this man was so convincing as Gandhi just few years ago? Ralph Fiennes too delivers as the sadistic yet shrewd villain Amon Goeth and so does the other side-actors.Indeed the subtle diplomacy between Schindler and Goeth is one of the stand points of the film.

Dedication can be sensed in every frame of the movie right from the camera work to the background score.It seems the crew members realized the importance of history they were re-creating.The script is taut and does not drag despite the over 3 hrs length of the film.The scene with the little girl in red dress(only color frame in the movie) involves the audience with its underlying innocence.From there on Schindler's transformation affects us too as we realize the enormity of the journey he embarks upon.Beyond the macabre mass murders and "killings for fun" we start to share the collective joy and grief of the struggling community-that sense of togetherness lingers on far after the film ends.That is the biggest reward from the film.

Today there are few thousand Jews left in whole Poland while Schindler's Jews alone have grown beyond 10000.

Whosoever saves one life,saves the world entire.

Who said we cannot make a difference?