FILM FEST FEVER –MAMI 0 9-6

Indu Raman | Talking-Points | November 8, 2009 at 8:56 am

DISGRACE-DIRECTOR STEVE JACOBS
The screenplay is a visual tapestry of contrasts and contradictions that is a reality in post-apartheid South Africa. The film reveals the changing social scene where blacks reinforce their new status in society. The views held by the daughter and father symbolise the old and the changing new values. The intellectual side of his personality cannot understand her retreat from civilisation into the dangers of the wild countryside. She demands her freedom to make her choices however unpalatable they may be to him.

The story is of a 50 year old respected University professor of English Poetry who is asked to resign for inappropriate behaviour with a student. Arrogant and unrelenting, he never stops to indulge his sexual craving be it with hookers or a willing friend. Unable to face the ignominy at home, he visits his daughter who lives alone in the country. She grows vegetables and flowers and takes them to the market on Sundays. She is heavily dependant on her black helper Petrus (Eriq Ebouaney) who freely walks in and out of the small house much to the consternation of the visiting father. How he eventually takes complete control of Lucie is extremely scary. During his stay the Professor learns a few hard lessons from the harsh realities of the changing world.

John Malkovich as the cynical Prof. David Lurie and first time actor Jessica Haines as Lucie portray their characters with intensity. Those who remember John Malkovich’s steely performance in ‘In Line of Fire’ will see this actor in another challenging role. The few lines of poetry he reads in class reveal his mastery over diction and his prodigious stage experience.

Jacob has adapted the Booker Prize winning novel by J.M. Coetzee and come up with a winner. The photography of the countryside clearly communicates fear and loneliness which is the theme of the film.

IL DIVO- DIRECTOR PAOLO SORRENTINO

Il Divo The title is a nickname given to Giulio Andreotti seven time prime minister of Italy from 1972 to 1992. This is the story of the trial when he is accused of his connections with the Mafia and the murder of those who were openly critical of his policies. With a flourish of violins and cellos we are introduced to a host of personalities on the political scene and even as the names roll off the tongue of the narrator we lose count of who is who. Finally it doesn’t matter.

Toni Servillo gives a stunning performance as Andreotti whether it is the comic, short-stepping gait, the slouch, his migraines, folded ears, fidgeting hands or the inscrutable expression on his face. Like an evil gnome with magical powers he goes about executing opponents and coming out clean at each trial. The whole film has a zany sense of humour and wit. When reprimanded by the Bishop for spending more time chatting with priests and not God, Andreotti replies, “Priests vote. God does not”.
Sorrentino is an obviously an actor’s director and has drawn a great cameo performance from Bonaiuto as Livia the loyal but long suffering wife. She says, “You can’t spend your life with a man and not know who he is. I know who you are.” Even as she says it she is puzzled by the impassive mask of her husband’s face.
Perhaps the story could have focussed more on the man and his deeds. The elaborate build-up to story with many live characters detracts and confuses those not familiar with the Italian political scene. They could have been shown pictorially as one unit without the names. But then that would be trying to make ‘Gandhi’ without Nehru, Patel, Azad, Jinnah and the rest. The viewer just learns to focus his attention on Il Divo and enjoys the magnificent cinematography, the music and the histrionics.
Il Divo, the central figure, the treatment and the music all remind the viewer of Coppola’s ‘Godfather’. That’s inevitable. That’s incomparable.