Category: English OTT Film Reviews

Posted on

Girls Will Be Girls: A layered story of adolescence driven by a fantastic cast

Girls Will Be Girls movie image

Director Shuchi Talati does a wonderful job in exploring the complexities of Teenage. An important part of Girls Will Be girls is the theme of sexual awakening portrayed with lots of sensitivity

Starcast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron and others

Director and writer: Shuchi Talati

Producers: Richa Chaddha, Clarie Chassagne and Shuchi Talati

Production Companies: Pushing Buttons Studios, Blink Digital etc

Music: Pierre Oberkampf and Sneha Khanwalkar

Cinematography: Jih-E Peng

Running time: 1 hour and 58 minutes

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

The age of adolescence is a very complex period in the life of a teenager. Both mentally and physically there are major upheavals. Shuchi Talati’s story focuses on one such teenager without any commercialization.

Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti in Girls Will Be Girls

The main plot of Girls Will Be Girls revolves around Mira ( Preeti Panigrahi) set in a boarding school. Preeti is both a class topper as well as a prefect. Kani Kusruti plays the protective mother Anila. There is a father too appearing occasionally. Mira’s life takes a major turn with the entry of a new joinee Srinivas ( Kesav Binoy Kiron). Mira starts developing feelings which includes sexual as well. While chatting with Srinivas over the phone Anila catches her daughter making it very clear that the two can only be friends and northing more. However Mira and Srinivas continue to pursue each other romantically. Soon Srinivas starts coming to Mira’s house developing a good rapport with Anila. This leads to a major tension as Mira feels that Srinivas is giving more attention to her mother. The rest of the story focuses on the new challenges that Mira faces and how she navigates adolescence.

Keshav Binoy Kiron as Srinivas

A strong aspect of Girls Will Be Girls is how Shuchi Talati portrays the physical changes that a teenager undergoes. For example there is a scene where Mira tries to appear sexy in the front of a ,mirror while lip syncing. Similarly there is also a bit of Mira trying to practice kissing. These moments have been presented with honesty making it relatable for many teenagers.

Apart from the challenges of adolescence Shuchi Talati also does a wonderful job in showcasing the complex mother and daughter dynamics. Their relationship has shades of jealousy with some unpleasant moments. Anila is an overprotective mother who has a hard time in dealing with her rebellious daughter. She wants to limit the physical and emotional intimacy of the two. The dynamics get further complicated when Srinivas gets closer to the mother, his proximity with Anila increases leading to a further divide. However beneath all the insecurities there is also mutual love which comes out strongly.

The complex mother and daughter dynamics

The movie’s pacing is deliberately slow but for a story of this nature it works perfectly. The build up to the bodily changes that Mira is undergoing has been portrayed with the right amount of sensitivity. The film dwells into the themes of sexuality from a female perspective showcasing how societal repression often comes in the way. This is something that we don’t see in the high testosterone male led cinema.

The scenes of Mira losing her virginity and the various feelings which come with it have been shot in an aesthetic manner with no titlation.

Mira’s sexual awakening

Shuchi Talati’s use of visual metaphors is also brilliant. These metaphors perfectly convey the internal struggle which the characters are going through on numerous occasions. The movie is a perfect example of how dialogues aren’t always needed to convey the emotional turmoil.

The performances of Preeti and Kani Kusruti also make this movie a major winner. Preeti Panigrahi had won the special jury award at 2024 Sundance Film Festival and she truly deserves it for her wonderful portrayal. She perfectly captures the vulnerability, defiance and the contradictions which a teenager goes through. She more than holds her own opposite the terrific Kani Kusruti. Speaking about Kani Kusruti the actress continues her terrific form showcasing her immense versatility post All We Imagine as Light. She does a superlative job in bringing out the turmoil of a woman who is grapping with her own desires while being a caring mother. As Srinivas Keshav Binoy Kiron has an easy charm blending in perfectly. He also brings in a sense of ambiguity adding an extra layer.

Posted on

Don’t Look Up: Leonardo DiCaprio And Jennifer Lawrence Headline This Important Film On Climate Change

Adam Mc Kay’s Don’t Look Up is an allegory of sorts in many ways. It talks about how world leaders, corporations, and big media are dealing with global warming and its consequences. It works both as a satire and also as a wakeup call. The satire mostly comes through the character of President Orlean (Meryl Streep). Her character is based on ex President Donald Trump.

The story of Don’t Look Up revolves around two astronomers Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) and Dr Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio). Both of them embark. While working on a research paper they stumble upon the existence of a comet “the size of Mount Everest.” It is hurtling towards the earth and is all set to make a deadly impact in 14 days. The comet is said to have the power of a billion Hiroshima bombs.

First they warn the American president who is in the midst of a political crisis over a Supreme Court appointment. She and her son along with the chief of staff make them wait for hours before sending them away. The next day she gives them twenty minutes to have their say. The president along with the administration don’t take their warnings seriously.

Left with no other option they go to a morning show of a television hosted by Brie Evantee (Cate Blancheet) and Jack Bremmer (Tyler Perry). They try to put their point across but  the television hosts are just another pair of guests who are not worthy of importance. The excitement is more about the break- up of a popstar (Ariana Grande in a cameo). Not surprisingly both the astronomers feel like they are talking to a wall. Kate in particular is livid and doesn’t shy away from showing her emotions. What follows is a cocktail of many socio political issues.

The most striking aspect of Don’t Look Up is how the director tackles the many themes in the film. In the hands of a less competent director this cocktail would have fallen flat but Adam Mc Kay does a terrific job in not only making you laugh but also making you thoughtful about how indifferent we have become towards climate change.

An important aspect of the film is how it looks at people from both ends of the spectrum. On one hand you have the realists who recognize where the world is heading, at the other hand you have those who pretend that everything is fine. The director does a terrific job in capturing both these sides.

The scenes involving Meryl Streep’s character is another major asset. Through her character the director talks about autocracy, he takes several jibes at the way Donald Trump has functioned. Anyone who has issues with the government is picked up and given a warning. This comes through in the scene involving Jennifer Lawrence character.

Leanardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are a delight to watch in their respective roles. They make you empathize with the frustrations of Kate and Dr Mindy. Meryl Streep is a complete hoot as President Orlean. It is clear that she has enjoyed playing this character a lot.

Don’t miss Don’t Look Up.