Movie: Amal

True kindness is really rare it seems, except in the case of Amal Kumar the central character of this film, whose noble intentions and good will set off a string of events that crisscross the lives of so many.  Based on a short story by Shaun Mehta, this Canadian production set in New Delhi captures the many disparate faces of India together with its bustling population and confronting poverty. It is precisely this backdrop of unique characters and the country's blatant social stratification that makes it such a fascinating setting for the film.  Everyone here co-exists without any real connection to each other, that is, until Amal, the eternally caring and tender rickshaw driver, manages to touch their lives in a swirl of selflessness thereby setting off a chain of tragic events.

You can never quite predict what will happen in this film for it is at once filled with so much hope and promise that's it's almost hard to digest the moments when it turns dark and ugly.  Just when things seem to be getting better we are met with yet another surprise that somehow manages to punch us sorely in the stomach before finally drawing to a quiet yet somehow unfinished conclusion.  Perhaps the only element that remains steadfast and consistent however is Amal's contentment with his occupation.  Being a rickshaw driver is hardly an enviable occupation but it gives Amal a sense of pride and dignity that is often lacking in those around him.  His rickshaw, inherited from his father, is also a symbolic reminder of the man who once shared the same profession.  

Rupinder Nagra as Amal Kumar

Amal's integrity quickly begins to affect those around him and it is a single encounter with a wealthy passenger that leads him to inherit a considerable fortune.  While the affected family members bicker over their father's will they are left to unravel Amal's identity and whereabouts.  As a scrimmage for the proceeds ensues it is Amal's character who brings to our attention the ways in which everyone in the film is ultimately related in one way or another.  Perhaps the film's greatest achievement is the healthy balance it strikes between its sentimental and dramatic undertones which is quite remarkable for a first time director.  This is an impressive debut which certainly deserves more credit and recognition.  It will be interesting to see what more director Ritchie Mehta will have in store for us in the future.  See it for yourself and let me know what you think.  I doubt that you'll be disappointed.

Movie: The Song of Sparrows

If you're looking for a sweet and funny comedy this well-directed film by Persian director Majid Majidi is simply charming.  Beautifully set in the Iranian countryside it is a story as much about family as it is about the contrast between city values and the simplicity of rural life.  It will make you laugh; it will certainly give you something to be optimistic about, and it might even make you want to become an ostrich farmer.

The hero of this movie is Karim who works on a farm to support his wife and three kids.  After losing one of the ostriches he is entrusted to take care of he is quickly fired.  It is around this same time that Karim finds out that his daughter requires a new and expensive hearing aid.  By chance while he is visiting Tehran he ends up working as a taxi driver to earn a living.  It is here, that the combination of financial pressure and his seemingly first confrontation with the wealth of the city, that his good nature quickly channels into an increasingly hostile and unethical one.  It takes an accident for him to finally realize the nature of his ways and the endearing and creative ways with which his kids are trying to help him.   

Fabulous News: Norwegian Wood is Now a Film

I had no idea they were even making a movie based on this great book by Haruki Murakami.  But it's true.  Apparently it took four years to make and it was directed by Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung best known for the The Scent of Green Papaya which won the Caméra d'Or Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.  I'll have to add that one too to my list of movies to see.

And to think I just wrote about the book in my Holiday Wish List.  Of course, if you want to read a full synopsis there are two great reviews that can be found, one at The Guardian and another at The National 

The movie has already been released in Japan but won't be available in North America until March 18, 2011.  The official English website can be found here.  I cannot wait, I love foreign films; they're always amazing and this story of first love, and ultimately lost love, and mental illness is so touching I wish everyone would read the book.   If you want to find out more about Haruki Murakami, and I strongly suggest you do, his official website can be found here.  Once you read one of his novels you'll want to read them all.  Trust me on this.