'Manjummel Boys' will likely go down as one of the most brilliantly executed films the storytelling landscape has seen in years.
The film's mastery lies in its blending of reality and fantasy, mixing raw primal emotions like fear, curiosity, guilt, love and bravery into a tapestry of scenes befitting Palaeolithic cave art for its gripping intensity and the honesty with which it treats its characters.
A seemingly straightforward plot, it's easy to expect equally straightforward treatment, given this tale is based on a true story. This could've been a cold, serious docudrama or a fantastical take on the legends of the mountains, they could've weaved in preachy sociopolitical commentary and critiques, but to the delight of the audience, they chose a different path.
Each frame oozes with layers and layers of story, well-crafted character development, and a raw aesthetic that captures the awe-inspiring wonders and dangers of the deep, misty, ancient mountains. The storyline is flanked by conundrums of caution and culture, fate and faith, all without any preachy dialogues. In many moments, the film almost philosophically straddles a fine line between tradition and modernity, without openly questioning either. They leave that to the audience. The film-makers treat their audience with maturity, there is no spoon-feeding, instead it is a buffet of creative excellence. Some of the visual metaphors are so delicate, you may just miss them in the palpable, edge-of-your-seat tension that holds the story together.
There is no sermonizing, no moral science lectures, every single aspect of the production from the dialogues to the screenplay, the direction, casting, the seamless editing, heart-pounding visuals, the score, art direction, colours, costumes, and ufffffff the lighting! All masters in their own right, and still every single element melds together in service of the film as a whole, and not solely for their own praise.
This film is a love letter to nature, unsaid promises between friends, and the indomitable force that is the human spirit. This is the kind of film that stays with you, and will probably flash through your eyes on your next trip to the mighty mountains with your buddies. Can't give half star extra on IMDB, but this is a strong 8.5/10 for me. Vere level, seriously. I could do a shot by shot breakdown and go on and on about why each layer works so well with the others, but then what will you do after watching it?
The film's mastery lies in its blending of reality and fantasy, mixing raw primal emotions like fear, curiosity, guilt, love and bravery into a tapestry of scenes befitting Palaeolithic cave art for its gripping intensity and the honesty with which it treats its characters.
A seemingly straightforward plot, it's easy to expect equally straightforward treatment, given this tale is based on a true story. This could've been a cold, serious docudrama or a fantastical take on the legends of the mountains, they could've weaved in preachy sociopolitical commentary and critiques, but to the delight of the audience, they chose a different path.
Each frame oozes with layers and layers of story, well-crafted character development, and a raw aesthetic that captures the awe-inspiring wonders and dangers of the deep, misty, ancient mountains. The storyline is flanked by conundrums of caution and culture, fate and faith, all without any preachy dialogues. In many moments, the film almost philosophically straddles a fine line between tradition and modernity, without openly questioning either. They leave that to the audience. The film-makers treat their audience with maturity, there is no spoon-feeding, instead it is a buffet of creative excellence. Some of the visual metaphors are so delicate, you may just miss them in the palpable, edge-of-your-seat tension that holds the story together.
There is no sermonizing, no moral science lectures, every single aspect of the production from the dialogues to the screenplay, the direction, casting, the seamless editing, heart-pounding visuals, the score, art direction, colours, costumes, and ufffffff the lighting! All masters in their own right, and still every single element melds together in service of the film as a whole, and not solely for their own praise.
This film is a love letter to nature, unsaid promises between friends, and the indomitable force that is the human spirit. This is the kind of film that stays with you, and will probably flash through your eyes on your next trip to the mighty mountains with your buddies. Can't give half star extra on IMDB, but this is a strong 8.5/10 for me. Vere level, seriously. I could do a shot by shot breakdown and go on and on about why each layer works so well with the others, but then what will you do after watching it?