You know, I certianly do NOT want this blog to look like a movie review website, but I just can't help myself!! It's been one of those weeks and I'm on film number 3. But that's not the shocker. What is the shocker, is that I'm actually going to roundly recommend this particular film. So peepuls, hold on to your hats, I'm not wasted.... but you MUST go see "Chak De India". LOL! If only I could see your faces. But I kid you not. I went under severe duress (no surprises there), considering that fact that I can't stand Shahrukh Khan, don't give a toss about hockey of any denomination and believe the best way to watch a Hindi film is with a finger on the fast foward button, but hey, thought I'd at least catch up with friends. I sort of invited Emma to join us (was spending the day with her being esoteric over Eggs Benedict for brunch and then photo exhibition at the Tate), but between the Tate and movie start, managed to dissuade her with my dire caveats on her watching of the movie and she decided it was too big a risk to take. Thought I'd cut out during the interval - Hah! I wasn't going till I found out how it ended. Yes, it's about the Indian National Hockey team, the women's team i.e. and SRK is their coach, and yes, there are the requisite moments for SRK to get all emo and blurry eyed and deliver his dialogues with strain, but have to admit, he looked fantastic - all fit and toned. So much so, I wouldn't mind having that come and coach me! But I digress. Contrary to Bollywood belief, the film wasn't about him. It was all about the women, and what a bunch of women. Hard core stereotypes, but just so bloody endearing. Each one of the women had their characters so well defined - physically, emotionally and verbally and it was a treat to watch them in action. The dialogues were their own, at least it felt like it. Actually, that's one of the things about this film. Apart from the garbage SRK spews, everybody else said things that they would have said in real life, and the best line had to be the bewildered English coach pleading for enlightenment, "I'm confused, which one is Didi?". Priceless. The women come across as gutsy, and there are bits, where strong men are portrayed, i.e. those unthreatened by this motley lot who give them their due. For me, the turning point came when the Indian men's team saluted their abilities - kicker of a scene. The hockey matches are a revelation - don't know who the director is (shall Google in a minute), but he's a fucking genius. All of us were on the edges of our seat during the world championships, willing India on, and biting our nails for the tense matches!! For God's sake - Hockey!! Pretty incredible to have managed to get a bunch of jaded, scoffing desi's to this stage. Not sure if the women were all hockey players, or just athletes or stray actresses (esp. the ladies from Jharkhand - you've got to love them, Ho?!). Naturally, there are the typical Hindi movie bits that really annoy you and make you want to slap someone, but hey - all the more reason to apprecaite the best bits of the film of which there are a damn sight more than I would have believed. Hats off to the Women's Hockey team, and if they ever actually start playing at international levell, I'll be buggered if I don't make a valiant effort to follow their efforts! Chak De India!!

Just saw La Vie en Rose a couple of nights ago, and it's a phenomenol movie. It's the only film I've ever been to where at the end, when the screen goes blank, the crowd just sat there in stunned silence.... for a full 45 seconds, before someone started a tenantive applause going, which stuttered across the rest of the audience. None of the usual fidgeting, rushing out of seats the minute the last scene is obvious. Rather eerire to have an entire theatre of people just staring at a blank wall. These French really know how to do death - the ending was really powerful. Sort of like having someone reach in for your guts and twist them around really good before yanking them out.
For the tasteless (and you know who you are), it's a biopic on Edith Piaf, the French crooner. She was given the name Piaf (Sparrow in French) by Louis Leplee, the man that discovered her singing for her supper on the corner of a Parisian Street. It was an incredible life, an incredible woman. When she belts it out, the hairs on your arms stand to attention, and she was a complete diva - talented, temperamental, hard living, gutsy and arrogant. As she says, when her manager fusses over her because she's kept a composer waiting for over two hours "What's the point in being Edith Piaf!" . Marion Cotillard is just superb as Piaf - I have no idea how close the resemblance is, but this is how I'll always think of her. Part fluttering sparrow and part wild animal, both hurling themselves against the bars of a cage. And while she owns the movie, I just have to say that Jean Pierre Martins is entirely edible.
The beginning is a little slow and could possible have done with some tighter editing, but by the time you get to the second half, Edith rules you. An inspiring woman. An inspiring life.