As 2023 draws to a close, Film Friday bids farewell with a bang, spotlighting seven cinematic gems that captivated the year. From South Korean whispers of rekindled love in “Past Lives” to the darkly comic Victorian whirlwind of “Poor Things,” we journey through Anatolian landscapes, cheer for underdog triumphs, and witness raw performances that sear into your soul. Whether it’s Manoj Bajpayee’s smoldering Dasru in “Joram” or the heartfelt resilience of Vikrant Massey in “12th Fail,” these films leave their mark. Bengali gem “Palan” invites you into its Kolkata embrace, while “Raktabeej” delivers an action-packed thrill ride with a powerful message. So, grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and dive into these unforgettable narratives – 2023’s final Film Friday waits!
Past Lives
“Past Lives” whispers a poignant tale of childhood love rekindled across continents. It lingers in fleeting glances, tender conversations, and the ghosts of what-ifs echoing between Seoul and New York. Lee and Yoo’s performances simmer with longing, their chemistry a smoldering ember refusing to fully ignite. The pacing is deliberate, mirroring the characters’ cautious navigation of past and present. While yearning for more passionate flames, the film’s quiet beauty and aching nostalgia linger long after the credits roll, leaving you reflecting on love’s lost chances and life’s winding paths.
Poor Things
Lanthimos’ twisted fairy tale rewrites Frankenstein with a woman stitched together and unleashed. Emma Stone shines as Bella, a hurricane of curiosity and chaos, navigating Victorian absurdities with unflinching spirit. Darkly comic, visually stunning, and unapologetically weird, “Poor Things” is a whirlwind ride through love, loss, and the messy beauty of being alive. Prepare for unsettling laughs, feminist fury, and a finale that explodes like a bottle of champagne in the face of societal norms. Embrace the oddness, and you might just find yourself falling for Bella’s unconventional brilliance.
About Dry Grasses
In Ceylan’s “About Dry Grasses,” Anatolian landscapes mirror troubled souls. A jaded doctor, Samet, clashes with idealistic teacher Nuray, sparking intellectual fire and forbidden desire. Their verbose debates expose social hypocrisy and personal demons, but Ceylan’s masterly long takes capture not just words, but simmering resentments and unspoken yearnings. The film’s near-three-hour runtime demands patience, but rewards it with moments of raw beauty and unexpected twists that leave you pondering long after the credits roll. Brilliant performances, especially Dizdar’s award-winning Nuray, make this a feast for cinephiles, even if its dry grasses rustle with frustration.
12th Fail
A heartwarming underdog tale, 12th Fail is rough around the edges but fueled by Vikrant Massey’s steely spirit. The story of a failing student’s UPSC ascent feels predictable at times, but Chopra’s earnest storytelling and Massey’s captivating performance tug at your heartstrings. While lacking the sharp wit of Chopra’s classics, it’s a sincere ode to resilience, leaving you cheering for the second chance dreamer.
Joram
Manoj Bajpayee smolders as Dasru, a tribal man falsely branded a murderer, forced to flee with his infant daughter through a brutalized landscape. Director Makhija crafts a gripping thriller, weaving personal tragedy with searing social commentary. The chase for survival isn’t just physical, but against a system rigged against the marginalized. Bajpayee’s raw performance, Ayyub’s conflicted cop, and Tambe’s fierce vengeance make Joram a hauntingly beautiful film, leaving you questioning the cost of progress.
Palan
Palan is indeed a Bengali movie that needs to be seen by all Bengalis who live in Kolkata. The main attraction of the movie is that you never feel you are watching a movie. You are a part of the characters and place, specially Anjan Sen:s single room and balcony. That feel like participating with the characters and say something just like you would have done in your own family.
You clench your fists and subconsciously speak out your outbursts also( silently). The father son relationship, the mother son relationship. And the husband wife relationships are so well captured that you easily relate yourself with them and feel a tremendous urge to be a part of them. Their difficulties are your difficulties, their helplessness are your failures to give solutions to them. Overall the movie is a tribute to the iconic film maker Mrinal Sen. Whose each and every film is an artwork is immense.
Raktabeej
In “Raktabeej,” directors Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee venture into action-adventure, unfolding a terror plot in remote Khoyragarh. Local police join ‘Centre’ specialists to thwart an assassination attempt on the President of India. The tightly scripted film weaves diverse perspectives seamlessly, maintaining a fast-paced narrative with well-shot action sequences. Starring Victor Banerjee, Abir Chatterjee, Mimi Chakraborty, and Kanchan Mullick, the film excels in character dynamics. Despite limited character backstories, the movie delivers a powerful message on terrorism. Music enhances the experience, making it a must-watch for fans of the director duo’s genre shift.
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