In the film Ben-Hur Judah Ben-Hur who is on a torture trip along with the other prisoners and criminals is denied water. As he pleads “Oh God” Christ comes with a pitcher of water, washes his face and gives him more water to drink. The guard notices this and says, “I said-no water for him.”…
From John Ford to High Noon and The Magnificent Seven, Krishna Mohan reflects on the moral codes, archetypes and vast landscapes that give the Western its enduring power.
Luis Bunuel was one of the founders of the surrealist movement in films along with Salvador Dali. Surrealism is the exploration of something beyond the real. It is digging into the dream like, deep unconscious to discover new realms of expression. It is the mind’s unconditioned, unhampered response to ideas. It is not rational, not pragmatic…
Not long ago watching movies in theaters was one of the things I looked forward to. I was born in 1968, and probably acquired some aesthetic sense to enjoy and appreciate good films in 20 years. Passionate remarks or casual discussions about the great movies of the earlier era by relatives or elders would make…
Set in post Second World War Tokyo, this crime investigation masterpiece in the genre of Film-noir, carries the ubiquitous stamp of Kurosawa’s genius. It is the story of two cops who are on the hunt for a criminal on the loose; The Stray Dog. The film starts with one of the cops Murakami losing his…
Why Dersu Uzala stands apart among Kurosawa’s films: simplicity, friendship, nature and the quiet dignity of a life lived close to the wilderness.
Kanchan is the only child of a headmaster in a village school. He is young, playful and has big dreams of going into the world and exploring its wonders. His mother shields him as often as she can from his father’s strict eye. He is a disciplinarian and punishes Kanchan for his naughty quarrels and…
Took time off to watch Dersu Ouzala again after nearly 16 years. There are some films which remain with you for a very long time. They become a part of you. They have touched a chord somewhere that defines your personality and existence. While a majority of films entertain you, these films have a meaning…
A reflection on Vittorio De Sica and Italian neorealism, where ordinary people, natural settings and unadorned truth become the substance of cinema.
I’m a movie fanatic. Having grown up in a town without the pastimes and hobbies of a village (the charms of the rural) like fishing, swimming, gaming or taming animals, my principal source of entertainment was going to the movies. The theatre behind our home was the center of gravitation. When ever I was early…