A Man Called Otto (2022)

Photo courtesy www.imdb.com

Warning: mentions of suicide

When I read that Tom Hanks was playing an aging widower in ‘A Man Called Otto’, I got interested in watching the movie. I love actors who play age-appropriate roles – the depth they lend to characters by their sheer presence is immense. And this is Tom Hanks, after all, so expectations were high.

Otto is a widower who is seriously contemplating suicide post his wife’s demise. He tries multiple ways to end his life, but all his attempts are thwarted by other people – who don’t know he is thinking of ending his life. His character is a contrast from the character played by Robert De Niro in ‘The Intern’ – Niro’s character accepted his wife’s demise and leads his life well.

Otto’s loneliness, grief and suicidal thinking is captured in an authentic manner, and reminded me of some days from my past. Otto struggles through daily life, missing his wife constantly. He keeps her clothes around, gets angry when someone tries to touch her stuff, and visits her grave and talks to her. He lost his parents early – we don’t know anything about his wife Sonya’s family – has no children, has severed connections with his neighbours and has accepted a retirement package from his company. The scene where the cake printed with his image is cut is poignant – I am now clear that I won’t get photographs of any person printed on cakes!

His life turns around when a pregnant mother of Mexican origin moves as his neighbour, along with her husband and 2 daughters. My exposure to Hispanics is only via movies, and she doesn’t disappoint – she is warm, chatty, straightforward and a great cook. She slowly draws Otto out from his shell – he reminds her of her father who is no more. He enjoys her cooking without being patronising.

I like movies in simpler, everyday settings that focus on how people interact with each other. The movie touches upon the treatment of transgender persons (a trans man has been cast in the role), men who are effeminate, interracial friendships. Added to this is the interactions with neighbourhood animals.

The book on which the movie is based in set in Sweden, and I am keen on reading it as it features an Iranian immigrant.

Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar (2023)

After watching movies featuring Ranbir Kapoor regularly, I somehow lost interest and missed watching many of them. When “Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar” was going to be released, I had no idea that Arijit Singh has done playback singing for Ranbir many times over. The songs looked good to me – even if they reminded me of “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani”, released a decade ago.

It piqued my interest when I read that Shraddha Kapoor’s character was a bit different, and in search of something light to watch, I decided to go for this movie. I had the sibling's company as well.

Firstly, it was wonderful to see Gurugram and generally happy, flirty Punjabi characters again – they remind me of some great times in my life. Shades of “Hitch” made me smile – it is now much easier to appreciate the easy-going break-ups rather than dramatic ones!

It was interesting to see how the joint family was portrayed differently for both Ranbir and Shraddha, with Ranbir enjoying the warmth and general camaraderie and Shraddha struggling with not having space to just be and watching her educated mother give up her dreams. I loved the dialogue delivery of both Dimple Kapadia and Hasleen Kaur, who play Ranbir’s mother and sister. The ease with which they portrayed the healthy family unit was lovely. Ranbir’s sister spends plenty of time at her maternal home along with her daughter – and this was also a nice touch. I heartily laughed at the sequences shot during the car ride and airport featuring the nonstop banter in Ranbir’s side of the family.

Now come the tougher observations. In the fight that takes place on the day of their engagement, even if Ranbir’s character wants to make it easier for Shraddha’s character (watch the movie to know why), the way he asks her if she is fucking dumb and how she should have asked him before applying to a job in a different city left much to be desired.

Shraddha’s character makes it clear that she wishes to lead her life in a nuclear family unit, and as movies would have it, the warmth of the joint family wins her over and she gets happily married and settled into her life in one – in short, the hero “rescues” her, with her MIL even helping her after a drunken night and not expecting her to do any housework. What happens to her independent streak and fractured equation with her side of the family is left completely unaddressed – her mother makes an appearance only in the last scene when Shraddha has a baby.

Earlier, Shraddha does indicate that Ranbir’s life wouldn’t change post marriage. Later, she happily takes to playing golf with him – as if adapting to his hobbies isn’t a change by itself. She likes to run – he is not shown as having taken to it! It so happens his best friend is married to her best friend - else I would have liked to know who she spends more time with.

Dimple is shown as an undemanding, genial MIL – I wonder what it would be like to see the story from her side, where she takes care of everything for her son and DIL and spares them all labour. Also, when she repeatedly slaps her adult 30+ year old son (even post his wedding, even after he says it is abusive) and his best friend, it isn’t clear why she wouldn’t do the same to the women in her family.

By no means are relationships all fun and frolic – routine life and responsibilities do take over. In midst of this, sparing some time to look at structural inequity and patriarchal expectations is necessary. And yes, pyaar hota kayi baar hai!