..and made by the acclaimed Iranian director Majid Majidi. I have always held that the top Iranian directors are the best film directors for films that are steeped in realism. This one is fantastic, if you (like me) have grown tired of the formulaic Hindi film, or if you occasionally like to try out a different type of film.
It's an ordinary enough story, about a teen dealer in drugs, his sister, and her would-be molester. Set against the slums, the difference is in the direction, the way the shots convey meaning that evolves, rather than with in-your-face dialogues.
It is about relationships between wives and wife-beating husbands, brother and sister, migrant workers in Mumbai, and strangers who become each other's life life support. Amazingly picturised, and brilliantly acted and directed. Hats off to one of the best directors, again. The flow from one scene to another is so smooth you are unwittingly drawn into each character, and sympathise with them, whether it's the small girl peeping under the bed, or the pimp-gangster.
Beyond expectations, certainly from a Hindi film.
