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yup. netflix claims another victim. i haven’t gotten butterflies in my stomach like this since the day i shot for my first movie, or played in my first varsity soccer game in college, or asked a cute gori girl to the homecoming dance during my sophomore year in high school (sure, she said no, but seriously, what the hell was i expecting?). i felt like a kid in a candy store with an unlimited gift certificate as i browsed their movies. i’m all set to make the most of my one-month free rental. signed up for 4 movies at a time, with the intent of catching up on all the movies i’d missed during my 6-month stay in india, and also all the movies i’d been telling myself for a long time that i’d get around to watching some day.
i lost my netflix virginity to a movie that couldn’t have a more simple storyline, but the complexity and turmoil shown in it could put most bollywood films (and their makers) to shame. the story? a thug pulls off a carjack, only to drive a couple of miles and discover a surprise in the backseat, which eventually changes him as a person. “arre bore mat kar maamu (trans: don’t bore me dude)…is this a coming of age type movie or something?”

bole tho.. kinda. but needless to say, it’s about a helluva lot more. i’m not going to sound like a wannabe on a b4u “rushes” show and say “yeh phillum zara hatke hai” (trans: this movie’s a little different)… bc it’s really not. this one’s all about execution and performances (you listening KJ/SRK?). wow. and how. in case you haven’t already figured it out, i’m talking about last year’s best foreign film oscar winner “tsotsi”.

the film doesn’t go over-the-top sentimental or emotional. instead, it continually shows tsotsi in a constant state of anger, which is true to his character, even until the very end. and every performance, from the homeless wheelchair guy to the main lead (Presley Chweneyagae in a brilliant performance… just watch his eyes in the climax as the gate opens), is brought out even more by the minimal dialogues.

the DVD also has a “making of” feature, which would appeal to most cinema enthusiasts, and also includes gavin hood’s short film “the storekeeper”. not a bad film, but my attention span is a bit limited when it comes to silent films, as it was in this case. a special mention to the editor for keeping the pace crisp to the very end and another one to the soundtrack. i found the african hip-hop music way more fun to listen to than the crap being played in my gym.

i guess this went from a hooray netflix to a semi-review.. but what do i know? this is my first blog post ever… and i’m not even a writer! (i’ll work on it though)
bottom line. rent tsotsi and give it a watch.

next in line:

goal! the dream begins, walk the line, cinema paradiso