I am always driven towards a story that revolves around a child or a teenager because this stage of life shapes us as an individual. It is the experiences we have as a child that makes us what we are today as it is the age filled with so many firsts and how we react to those first’s makes all the difference. Today if we look back at them, we could only wish to have corrected them, reacted differently but then if one had known how to react then it wouldn’t have been “new” but “known”. So I know all of us have good memories, bad experiences and dark secrets from our childhood and that age is the most adventurous and fascinating of all I believe.
Indian Cinema has done a poor job in capturing a kids mind. It has always been fascinated by the theme of love, crime and sex; movies on these are made over and over again until one barely finds any dissimilarity in them. If we have to name one Indian movie on kids, we would name “Masoom” , “Anjali” or “Tare Zameen Par” and the list ends. But most of these have been on kids who are challenged by birth in someway, what about the normal kids like the one we all have been? We might not have had a disease or an inability but we still have had small experiences in life that has changed us to what we are.
Iranian movies are known to make great movies on kids and kids are allowed to be themselves in the story. Movies are made all about one simple story about their coping with life, as they make themselves prepared for the cruel world. Fortunately there are some good movies I can list today.
Stand By Me – A man remembers an event from his childhood on the day of his friend’s death. As kids, he and his 3 friends set off on a mission to find a dead body in the woods. Hidden in the 2 day trek and camping, he realizes the values and importance of friendship.
Now And Then – Four ladies meet after several years for a pact they had made to each other - to be there for one another at the time of need. During their meet, they recollect the carefree days as kids; pranks they played, dilemmas they faced and they cannot help realize that how things change as grown up’s.
Children Of Heaven (Persian)– An amazing movie about a brother and sister; The brother who has lost his sister's shoes consoles and cajoles her not to tell this to their poor parents who may not be able to afford a new pair. How they both manage with one pair of shoes forms the rest of the movie.
Flashabacks Of A Fool – About a Hollywood actor in midst of a depression, hearing the news of his best friend’s death recollects the stage of his life which changed everything for ever.
October Sky – Based on a true story about four friends on a mission to build a rocket.
Hope we get to see some more movies on the kids, also on the majority. Did I miss any movie? Let me know.
I hardly watch movies but if I catch any of these on world movies I will try and watch.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for this wonderful list; I'll be sure to catch up!
ReplyDeleteFlashbacks of a fool was pure genius and probably one of the most under-rated in recent years:)
ReplyDeleteIranians sure know how to make movies, another good example is persepolis.
I haven't seen stand by me, some say it's boring and plain.
Kish - Yes...FOF is a well made film. Will watch persepolis.
ReplyDeleteStand by me would be boring if you expect lot of excitments and fast paced entertaining cinema. But you having liked Bergman, i think you shall like this.
Thanks for popping over to my blog! Stand By Me ~ a classic movie ~ love it! :)
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I want to say is that movies and books are not taken seriously by a good many people in our country. For most people, movies are idle entertainment. Over the years, people seem to have lost the ability to absorb and to reflect. India has perhaps become more glamorous, but we have lost our fundamental ability to reflect. What absolutely turns me off is that most of the transformations that we see all around us are just skin-deep; they are rarely the outcome of a fundamental and pressing need.
ReplyDeleteThis attitude is also reflected in Indian cinema. Only when we are throbbing and aching to say something, we create something beautiful. And for that, one needs to speak from the heart of life. That is not the case with most Indian movie-makers today. They have nothing profound to say. So they run behind catchy themes and make movies that are far removed from the pulse of day-to-day life and the life and pursuits of the average human being.
I totally agree when you say that childhood is the most important phase in a human being’s life. For this is a phase when the child subconsciously absorbs his environment, processes it and learns. The expression of his personality in adult life is determined to a large extent, by his experiences in childhood. And in this regard, we have a profound dearth of movies. I am reminded of R.K.Narayan’s book- Swami and friends, which captures the mind of a child against a rural Indian backdrop, and effortlessly transports us to our own childhood.
It has been enriching reading you…
Hello Vidya,
ReplyDeleteCannot agree any less with you. In India people are very happy selling movies than ideas.