Café De Flore
Jean-Marc Vallée
The movie has two parallel narratives both set in different eras which then beautifully intertwine to enlighten the viewer. One story, set in the 1960s shows a single mother Jacqueline (Vanessa Paradis) trying very hard to bring up her son, Laurent who had been diagnosed with Down’s syndrome, while in what appears to be the present day, Antoine (Kevin Parent), rediscovers love and lives with his girlfriend and two daughters and is prepared to leave his wife Carole, (Helene Florent) who desperately tries to prevent the inevitable from happening. We see how music forms a deep meaning and how love and insecurities play a vital part in both narratives. The songs and the OST are brilliant.
Solaris
Steven Soderbergh
Many claim that this 2002 remake of the 1972 film of the same name is not as spectacular as the original but I think otherwise. This is definitely one of those movies that keeps you awake at night even days after you watch it. It is based on the science fiction novel of the same name by Polish writer Stanisław Lem. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film stars George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis and tells the story of a troubled psychologist (George Clooney) who is sent to investigate what has caused the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet to go insane. The film is so intriguing that the climax leaves one wondering whether Clooney actually left the spaceship or stays back. A must watch.
The Secret In Their Eyes
Juan José Campanella
The movie is based on Eduardo Sacheri’s novel La Pregunta De Sus Ojos (The Question in Their Eyes) and it begins with a retired prosecutor waking up from a nightmare regarding a case. For most officers there is that one unsolved case that keeps gnawing at them even years it has been closed. For Esposito, it is a case from 1974 — the brutal rape and murder of a young married woman. Esposito revisits his memories of the case and also seeks the assistance of his old boss, the beautiful senior prosecutor Irene Menéndez Hastings — with whom he has been secretly in love — in writing a novel based on the mysterious case. She is intrigued, and we are carried to flashbacks to a grim 1970s Argentina and flash forwards to the present day. The movie is a racy slick murder mystery with an unexpected climax and is worth watching for the neat screenplay.
Deshadanakili Karayarilla
Padmarajan
This movie directed by Padmarajan stars, Karthika and Shaari with Mohanlal and Urvashi playing pivotal roles. Padmarajan is known for his unusual themes and this film is about the inexplicable love between two high school girls, tomboyish Sally (Shaari) and the meek and tradition-bound Nirmala (Karthika). Unpredictable twists and turns make this an amazing ride all the way through.
Amaram
Bharathan
Directed by Bharathan, Amaram is written by A.K. Lohithadas with breathtaking cinematography by Madhu Ambat and stars Mammootty and Murali in the main roles. The story is based on the father-daughter bond and is famous for Mammootty’s stellar performance. Mammootty loves his daughter, But is lost when she elopes with Ashokan, son of Murali. The last scene where Mammootty brings back the body of an unconscious Ashokan and says “I’m leaving, The sea is calling me,” is a favourite.
Those that almost made it:
Amelie: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Mulholland Drive: David Lynch
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Miloš Forman
The Clockwork Orange: Stanley Kubrick
The Batman Trilogy: Christopher Nolan
Silence of the Lambs: Jonathan Demme
The Shawshank Redemption: Frank Darabont
Amores Perros: Alejandro González Iñárritu
The 400 Blows: Francois Truffat
Sruthi Sudhakaran is a final year student of communication at M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai. She is passionate about Malayalam and world cinema.
