Abbas kiarostami : Certified Copy

I think highly of cinema that initiates a compelling inner dialog especially when in the end you don't reach any closure. So much about happy endings.

Abbas Kiarostami's 'Certified copy' uses this ambiguity extremely well.

Of many Persian directors that I tend to confuse with each other except Majidi, from now on he is not the only one. Now there are two of them to distinctly remember and 'follow'.

Movie starts with a London writer, Shimell, attending launch event of its translation in Tuscany, the book flaunts the controvercial name - copy. Book as he describes is about art is in its perceptual value and not about its being original or copy. Among the admirer and attendee is Binoche, who runs a antique shop which sells copies of great originals and had views of her own. They end up spending time together later on and exchange views without necessarily sharing it, squabble through.

At a coffee shop he is mistaken for her husband and from the moment as they walks out, their interaction changes to as if they are married for real.

Abbas uses the graphic treatment of frame within frame with the use of mirrors when they argue over the statue and its artistic worth. Now the whole argument of fake-real uses the same recursive mechanism within the medium of movie making which itself is based on suspension of disbelief. He leaves the exact relation between shimmel and binoche ambiguous driving his point home.

He mixes his argument with light hearted almost natural comic vein at multiple instances. When they are approached by newly married couple or when Binoche waves at them from after the wine and outburst episode, or when Julian, her 8 yr old kid, decides to interrogate his mother for good, when she over phone help them find something. Juliette Binchoe is fantastic in her grace and illusive comedic presence.

This cinematic style does reminds of Linklaters. All those conversation heavy scenes - before sunrise. But the kiorastami and his graphic sense take this movie to different level than just an intelligent argument with yourself. Abbas is known for use of Persian poetry and so is Shimell takes refuge of poetics 'Garden of leaflessness' when he tries to convince her.

Go for it for a lingering thoughts of the movie that remains long after it is over.

Jeux d'enfants - "Love me if you dare" [French 2003]

Watched the beautiful French comedy ‘Love me if you dare’. Man, French idea of love is so eclectic that it shows in every shot. After watching French movies I wonder how come these people ever compete with brits in colonization, they are just not meant to be doing that dull things with their lives.

After watching Amelie and half a dozen other flicks, now I know what to expect before I click play in my VLC player. You get yourself ready for joyride of visually treated vivid visualisations and transitions of shots and breathe-taking handling of otherwise pedestrian plots.

A lot of times, I realised these movies involve a voice talking in the background and collage of animation, mixing, other media forms intelligently used in support to the narrative. I have seen a bad copy of this style in Hindi film ‘kidnap’ (Yaak!) with no distinct style of sketching but like a one lazy afternoon doodling of some amateur artist.
Although folks like Torintino make most of it…they take such innovative ideas of story-telling to mainstream audience in amazingly well crafted “ ”

Having seen extreme romantics like Korean my sassy girl etc etc where characters and story is nothing but loosely held incidences and moments which takes you in their embrace without you realising.

“love me if you dare” is of the same kind. In fact the story is about a game of ‘I dare’ Sophie and Julian play … and how it becomes a common thread of their lives. With time becomes only stronger. And at some time in their lives, after realising the futility in disillusioned but ‘normal’ life, they both resume the game. A similar theme I see running into movies these days – “Lot like love” . Either we are running out of originality in the name of inspirations or plagiarism or it is becoming un-denying fact of today’s life that two people go through ‘a lot’ before realising who is ‘the’ person to lead their life with.

One more thing, with ‘reach for certain bit of knowledge’ becoming too easy, only once in a while we see original screenplays. We have to exceedingly rely on handling of movie making or reinterpretation by creative mind when lights go on and you walk out on the velvet floor.

India's own Majid Majidi

Blue Umbrella - A simple Ruskin bond story told in the equally simple way. Vishal Bhardwaj comes up with yet another movie for kids, staged on the serene backdrops for his native Kumaun. Why I kept thinking of Majidi is because of the subject matter although Iranian uses a perfectly still camera for longer shots a little too much that gives more seriousness to the whole narration. Once a friend who is pro told me about this bit. Although more play with camera gives a little fluidity if the story lacks it.
Don't miss it if you admire Vishal's work.