avisolo Reviews

Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

Finding the Courage to Live Fully

[7 November 2004]

-looks to be an esoteric message released into popular culture a la Gurdjieff. Joe is full of hints and symbols pointing to it's inner message of the wisdom of truly living. e.g:"Dear God, whose name I do not know, thank you for my life. I forgot how big . . . thank you for my life" "My father says almost the whole world's asleep. Everybody you know, everybody you see, everybody you talk to. He says only a few people are awake. And they live in a state of constant, total amazement" -Brought to mind Shakespeare's 'Tempest' (the 3 Megs=Caliban, Ariel & Miranda!) -Clearly related to Kurosawa's 'Ikiru' which might be remade by Spielberg & Hanks

The Truman Show (1998)

Philosophical Allegory of Freedom

[1 November 2003]

A slickly veiled philosophical allegory of Plato's Cave, The Truman Show is a triump of social commentary of 'in the box' living and prophetic warning of the surveillance future into which we are all heading. Yes, for in real life Truman is You, albeit in a sinister vein. The film is a also a good representation of spiritual awakening and the need for constancy and aim in overcoming all troubles to walk the path to freedom, while appreciating the help we receive along the way.

The Stranger (1991)

Wonder and the Life of Philosophy in Society

[1 November 2003]

This remarkable film is in many ways a self portrait of Satyajit Ray because he was none other than an anthropologist and philosopher in the true sense of playful, childlike wonder. This is the the story of how how a life of curiousity and wonder have to survive in this cruel and foolish world which judges everything in materialistic terms. The philosopher is always and everywhere a stranger,though full of joy, simplicity and wonder at Being which is fervently demonstrated in the 'cosmic magician' sequence. Only those with the child in them alive will understand!

Ikiru (1952)

Powerful Memento Mori to find your own Purpose in Life

[10/10 · 26 July 2003]

This film is a mature masterpiece which fulfils the true function of Art-to reflect the mystery of Life and Living back to You. Enough Said-Go See this modern Memento Mori. Yours, Avi

Roti (1942)

Scathing Indictment of Capitalism

[28 September 2002]

This classic early film by Memboob is a very hard hitting and well made critique of the impact of the capitalist ethos on India's poor. This film is striking in it's uncompromising stand more so as it was made within the framework of commercial Indian cinema. Surely among the all time greats of Indian films.

Indrajeet (1991)

A Darker Amitabh

[27 September 2002]

This one is a hard watch and is a predule to the dark 90's in Indian life but has one of the more exuberant first halfs whith an amazing ode to keeping healthy. North and south meet in a hard hitting play of emotions. Again the search for justice continues into a darker realm.

Stalker (1979)

A Modern Revelation

[27 September 2002]

This movie if watched with an open heart can truly 'harrow your soul' as Tarkovsky puts it. It did so for me and provided a tremendous soul-searching shock that changed the direction of my life. If there has ever been a metanoic religious work of art in cinema this is it.

Zanjeer (1973)

Tigers in a radical game of justice and esoterica

[27 September 2002]

This hard-hitting film is my favourite for many reasons: -powerful performance by amitabh (laughs twice in the movie) -train murder scene which deserves putting Prakash Mehra up there with the all time director greats. Also Mehra has a penchant for location shooting and you get to see some of the dark sides of the mumbai locale. -esoteric motifs and hints strewn all over the movie('Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool') -Teja the bad guy is convincingly portrayed by Ajit -The unending quest for justice and it's bittersweet resolutions -The theme of love vs. revenge All these were amplified in Mehra's second classic 'Muqaddar ka Sikandar' In short it is rewarding viewing!

Mera Naam Joker (1970)

A hypothetical autobiography

[27 September 2002]

Raj Kapoor presents an hypothetical autobiography of scathing power that might be his most uncompromising movie and true legacy. Rishi Kapoor plays the young Raj very convincingly and I found the first part to be the most refreshing and touching. The Joker's philosophy is true but does not have may buyers but use this movie as a grand scale memento mori. Check out Raj Kapoor's 'Jagte Raho' for a more devastating social critique. The film is unique for a true Indo-Russian love story and dialogue in Russian. Love and let live.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978)

This 'bollywood' movie hides hidden gems of esoteric wisdom

[30 June 2002]

This movie while appealing to popular tastes also conceals esoteric reflections on life, death and purpose. Just some examples(warning! -may be a spoiler-watch the movie now!): -To taste life to the full play with death(including a muslim dervish implicitly referring to Jesus Christ) -the purpose of life is love(with subtly impled scenes of estatic sexual union in Zohra's death scene) -Life review before death(occurs twice-once in a dream and then in the last scene) And other such pearls of hidden wisdom A mythological drama for modern times and indeed a 'Film to Remember' This movie is a proud rebuff to those who would denigrate 'bollywood' movies and sets a high standard for quality entertainment in the shakespearean mode rarely equalled since in Bollywood. Take Care, Avi Solomon