Ajaypattan Reviews

Past Lives (2023)

In the Shadows of Lost Love: A Gentle Unfurling of Past Lives and Lingering What-Ifs

[9/10 · 14 October 2023]

Celine Song's directorial debut, Past Lives, gently navigates through poignancy and latent love with an aching subtlety that is both its strength and its shortfall. The on-screen chemistry between Greta Lee's Nora and Teo Yoo's Hae Sung permeates through the film, as they traverse the boundaries of memories and unrealized emotional landscapes, thereby, binding the viewers with a melancholic nostalgia.

The narrative arc gently recalls the emotional and surreal journey found within Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where love, memory, and the painful residue of relational dissolution are woven into a rich tapestry of storytelling. Both films artfully explore the terrain of past connections and the inescapable tendrils of love and loss that accompany them. Despite the parallels, Past Lives opts to tread a more restrained, perhaps underexplored path, trailing through the lives of its protagonists.

Song, using a semi-autobiographical lens, conjures a dialogue that touches upon the delicate veins of cultural dichotomy and the quiet, haunting remnants of love unfulfilled. The depth of this dialogue, however, often seems to skirt the precipice of deeper emotional and cultural explorations, leaving audiences to savor glimpses of potential depth.

Navigating through the complexities and quiet tumult of relationships, especially against the backdrop of lingering past loves, the film offers a nuanced, albeit at times, unsatisfying exploration of themes that may leave some viewers yearning for more tangible resolutions and emotional closure.

The tender love story etched between Nora and Hae Sung brings a profound, lingering depth to the narrative. Their emotional and unfulfilled love journey is not only a testament to missed opportunities and latent feelings but also a subtle, reflective mirror cast upon the quiet echoes of what-ifs and might-have-beens that linger in our own lives. The gentle tug between past emotional landscapes and present realities serves as a soft whisper, inviting viewers to traverse their own emotional terrains, exploring the silent, spectral echoes of their own unmet possibilities and latent loves.

Nora's internal tumult, skillfully portrayed by Greta Lee, and her silent oscillations between the safety of the present and the haunting allure of the past, crafts a delicate exploration into the often uncharted territories of love, loyalty, and the silent spectres of what might have been. The gentle cascades of emotions that flit through the interwoven tales of love, lost and found, in their quiet serenity and tumultuous silence, weave a subtle, poignant tapestry that invites viewers into a gentle, reflective repose.

Ending on a note that has stirred varied responses, Past Lives seeks to delineate the fragile lines between the past and the present, and between steadfast loyalty and the subtle, persistent pull of lingering desire. The film leaves behind an echoing stillness, offering a reflective space for audiences to contemplate their own histories of what might have been.

John Green once penned, "You can love someone so much...But you can never love people as much as you can miss them." Past Lives seems to reside within this delicate space, exploring the poignant, spectral echoes of lost love, inviting its audience into a realm of emotional reflection upon the memories and futures that might have unfolded differently.

Recommend watch.

Khufiya (2023)

Khufiya - A Mosaic of Espionage and Emotion

[7/10 · 7 October 2023]

In the ebb and flow of cinematic thriller tales Khufiya attempts to carve a niche by intertwining espionage with emotional complexity. Vishal Bhardwaj navigates through the stormy seas of international politics and individual tribulations laying bare a sprawling canvas where the microcosm of personal loyalties and broader geopolitics collide.

Tabu & Azmeri Haque Badhon take the center stage embodying a paradoxical dance of emotions and schemes that whittle through the frame with a tantalizing duality. Their chemistry sizzles yet flickers, offering moments of profound intensity that unfortunately get swathed under the film's convoluted narratives and somewhat diluted execution. While some critics find this pairing revolutionary, breathing life and mystery into the movie, others view it as a glimmer in an otherwise underwhelming mesh of subplots and thematic explorations.

Bhardwaj, recognized for his adept adaptations of literary works, orchestrates a symphony that is at times discordant yet unexpectedly harmonious in unexpected junctures. Khufiya finds its roots in Amar Bhushan's 2012 novel, "Escape To Nowhere," & navigates through a complex web of betrayals, gender reversals & visceral emotions. But herein lies an undeniable discord; the film's palpable potential gets enmeshed in its attempts to be a drama, spy thriller, and a poignant exploration of personal entanglements.

On one side of the coin, Bhardwaj's genius is evident in the meticulous crafting of characters and sublime moments that linger such as the nuanced representation of everyday life and interactions of spies & the gentle yet profound intersections of personal and national loyalties. There is a stoic resonance in Tabu's portrayal of Krishna Mehra (KM), whose impassive exterior conceals a tempest of conflicting loyalties and pain, mirrored hauntingly by Wamiqa Gabbi's compelling screen presence.

Conversely, the film struggles with its identity, attempting to straddle multiple narrative threads and thematic arcs, from espionage and betrayal to deeply intimate emotional and sexual explorations. There's a prevailing sentiment that the movie could have dug deeper, both in its spy thriller elements and emotional tapestry, providing a more taut and impactful cinematic experience.

Khufiya might not have realized its fullest potential arguably due to its pacing & a screenplay that some might find lacking. However it invites viewers into a shadowy world where nothing is black and white, offering a contemplative, if not entirely cohesive, cinematic journey. It's a film that simultaneously tells too much and too little, brushing against profound narrative depths yet often skimming the surface. The film encapsulates a secretive essence ("khufiya"), not just in its plot but in its restrained revelation of emotion, demanding an attentive audience to uncover its veiled intricacies.

The Swan (II) (2023)

From Dahl's Pen to Anderson's Lens: A Tale of Two Audiences in 17 min

[8/10 · 29 September 2023]

Wes Anderson's "The Swan," a part of an impressive short film collection inspired by Roald Dahl's stories on Netflix presents viewers with a vivid adaptation of Dahl's tale resonating with Anderson's signature stylistic flair. Featuring a stellar cast including Asa Jennings as the young Peter Watson and Rupert Friend portraying the adult Peter the 17-minute narrative plunges into the unsettling account of young Peter's encounter with two bullies.

Throughout the film, Anderson's masterful touch is evident, blending live-action with animation seamlessly, giving life to Dahl's rich storytelling. Embracing a strong visual design, the film possesses Anderson's penchant for symmetry and direct camera engagement. Though the plot unfolds through narration, suggesting more of the cruelty than explicitly showcasing it, the experience felt immersive. Such is the potency of the narrative that at moments, it seems like a reading session of Dahl's story rather than a motion picture.

However, the film might not resonate with everyone, especially those unfamiliar or less appreciative of Anderson's unique style, which over the years has been refined and might come across as predictable to some. Nevertheless, for fans of Anderson and Dahl, "The Swan" stands as a testament to storytelling excellence, artfully presented and layered with nuanced details awaiting rediscovery upon subsequent viewings.

Beyond "The Swan," Anderson's other Dahl adaptations, notably "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" and "Ratcatcher," further cements his prowess in translating Dahl's universe onto the screen.

In essence, "The Swan" is a captivating piece, masterfully bridging Anderson's cinematic artistry with Dahl's narrative brilliance.