This is such a lovely movie. Poor quality, the only copy available seems to be a bit deteriorated. But you can still feel the reality of the beauty of the world around them. And most of all, the story is so beautiful, hope and love over terrible damage.
Continue readingTag Archives: Kerala
Varane Avashyamund Review: Groom Wanted, but Not Really Needed
What a nice movie! A bit rambly and confusing, even more than usual for Malayalam films, but the characters are so interesting and nice that it keeps me going, and everyone ends in a good place.
Continue readingHappy Birthday Angie! Your Third Present, a Review of Style
I did it! I watched Style! Angie’s favorite Big Dumb Fun Hunks movie! And it is, as promised, a Big Dumb Fun Hunks movie. Also, there’s cars.
Continue readingValentine’s Week of Sex: Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal
This is a movie that is all about sex, without actually having a sex scene. Sex fantasies, sex experimentation, and sexual violence (nothing explicitly shown, but discussed and treated seriously by the plot). And it is also a movie about love and redemption and freedom. It’s just lovely.
Continue readingDriving Licence Review (SPOILERS): The Story Behind Every Star Story
Trying very hard to keep my eyes open and looking forward to spending tomorrow just being sick in bed, but I will plow on and finish the SPOILER review of this movie, because it is just so interesting! Oh, and I encourage you to read the spoilers in this case if you want. Probably most of you can’t see it in theaters, and the ideas it brings up are universal and really interesting to discuss. Or at least, I think so.
Continue readingDriving Licence Review (No SPOILERS): Shahrukh’s Fan, But in Kerala and With Prithviraj
As expected, I did way too much and by the end of the day was having a very hard time staying awake since I am ever so slightly sick. I just barely managed to make it through to the end of this film without falling asleep, but it was worth it (I think).
Continue readingChristmas Week Movies: Kumbalangi Nights, a Dark But Hopeful Family Film
I didn’t love love this movie as much as some other people did, but it is still a very very good film. And a visually beautiful film. And although it gets really dark in a lot of places, it ends in a place of hope and peace and love that feels very Christmas-y.
Continue readingChristmas Week Repost: Ohm Shanti Oshaana! My Favorite Malayalam Film
I guess tied for favorite? I also really adore City of God. But this one is the first one I loved.
Continue readingHistoric Films Week: Kayamkulam Kochunni, a Big Fun Communist Bandit Movie!!!!
We skipped Helicopter Eela and saw this instead, and it was such a good decision! I recommend you do the same.
Continue reading2009 Week: The Most Important Malayalam Film of the Year, Ritu
What an interesting movie! I read that it is supposed to be the start of the new age films, but it actually reminded me a lot more of Aalkkoottathil Thaniye. And other films I’ve seen from that classic 90s/late 80s era.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Nayakan, Pellissery’s First Film, It’s All About the Faces
Woo, I only have one Pellissery film left to watch! And also, booo I only have one Pellissery film left to watch. I will be so sad when it is over.
Continue readingJallikattu Review (SPOILERS): This is the Reason I Stay Off Social Media
What a brilliantly disturbing movie. If you are a film person, someone who admires camerawork and inventive images and so on, you can watch it. If you are someone who tends to get emotionally involved in a film, maybe stay away, there are some very disturbing emotions here.
Continue readingJallikattu Review (No Spoilers): A Nature Documentary With “Man” as the Subject
Look at that, I’ve now seen almost all Lilo Jose Pellissery’s movies! And it’s not easy, they take a lot out of you, these films.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Two Premam Reviews Combined into one to make a 3rd. Like His Love Stories!
This is gonna be weird. I wrote a Premam review very early on. And then I came back and reviewed it a second time. And now I am going to put these two reviews together into one awkward review.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: 9, Forbidden Planet With a Twist
Well, this is an interesting idea! That possibly was not explored as fully as it could have been explored. But hey, Prithviraj wears glasses and is unshaven, it’s still worth watching.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Peranbu, The Messy Reality of Parenting
An odd movie. Good on Mammootty for agreeing to be in it and doing such a good job. Good on the filmmakers for not pulling any punches with the reality of what they were showing while still being hopeful.
Continue readingBrothers Day Review (SPOILERS): A Brother for Women Who Really Need One
I saw a movie! In theaters! And stayed awake the whole time even though I was up way too late last night and it got kind of dull there in the middle and I really wanted to go to sleep.
Continue readingBrothers Day Review (No Spoilers): A Movie For People Who Really Really Love Prithviraj
I did it! A Malayalam movie opening day in theaters! I am so tired. I almost fell asleep in the theater, but then I didn’t. And now I have achieved things and I can write the review.
Continue readingFemale Films Week: Ohm Shanti Oshaana, A Happy Grand Finale
I love this movie so so so so much. And so far as I can tell, everyone who has watched this movie has also loved it so so so so much. It’s just lovable!
Continue readingFemale Films Week: 22 Female Kottayam, Finally a Woman Fights Back
This movie is super satisfying to think about after all the depressing movies we have been talking about, and the ones that tried to make a sexual power relationship something romantic and nice instead of dangerous and unhealthy.
Continue readingNRI Week: Jacobinte Swargarajyam, the Dubai Immigrant Experience
I have no idea why I love this movie so much. But I do! And when I started thinking about NRI Week, I knew I had to include it.
Continue readingNRI Week: Ranam! Desi Moter City
Shoot, I think I just reposted this a little bit ago. Oh well, it is still good and worthy of getting the review posted again.
Continue readingNRI Week: Ivide, An American Family Story
This is such a fascinating wonderful movie, so many themes woven into it, and no easy answers. And tragically, it is impossible to find with subtitles. Looks like it might be available through WorldCat (the extreme University version of inter-library loan) and on the UK, India, and Australia amazon on DVD. And also, Movie Time Video, the wonderful New Jersey store that offers rent-by-mail. So if you live in one of those three countries, or have access to WorldCat, or a rental account with NJMT, you can watch it! Otherwise, you can struggle along with the Einthusan no-subtitles version. Thankfully a lot of the dialogue is English, so you might be able to make it work.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Ranam, Desi Detroit
Well, I know at least one of you also watched this, so the two of us can have a nice discussion about non-toxic masculinity and Prithviraj being hot.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Sakhavu, for May Day
I finally watched it! Ages after it came out. For those of you who like Communists/Communism, this is a great movie for gently explaining the importance of collective action. For those of you who like “cuddly” type men (you know who you are!), this is a great movie for giving you nice sofa like Nivin striding around with his big arms and trunk.
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