February 22, 2010 The Japanese Wife
I normally dont review Hindi movies because I feel the plots still revolve around similar plots and formulae.
The Japanese Wife (TJW) however, was a result of months and years of anticipation and curiosity as to what it was all about.
Based on a book by the same name by Kunal Basu, TJW summed up is a story about three introverts. So goes the synopsis and it so very much sticks to it to perfection.
Rahul Bose (Snehamoy) is a Maths teacher in a small village at Sunderbans who lives with his Maasi (aunt). This is not the digital era where our facebook and chatrooms can let us unleash our Hyde part and be someone we aspired to be….the film is based in the era where people believed in hand written letters, awaited the post man, couldnt afford International calls, had no cellphones and believed in much more than our materialistic and plastic lives today.
Chigusa Takaku plays Miyage, a pen pal who through her letters grows in a relationship with Snehamoy. Friendship moves into love and matures into an unbelievable concept of “marriage” without having ever met.
Raima Sen as the widowed Sandhya who stays with the family and takes care of Rahul deserves a special mention for her work.
But all that apart, I have to admit that this film managed to move me to a great deal, perhaps because I could relate to it on many levels….
…the meaning of friendship
…the absense of BRB and TTYLs
…the thrill and scent of a real letter, the crisp creases on the folds of paper, collecting stamps, the smell of gum @ the post office.
…the meaning and effort behind sustaining a long term relationship
…wanting to say so much and finding solace in an bottle of ink & a piece of ruled A4 sheet
…cancelling and inserting words, drawing smileys near cancelled errors, doodling on the margins…
TJW moves at post pace and is not intended for audience who want to munch popcorn and forget a lazy sunday afternoon. This is a movie for people who value their relations and who know what it means to truly love someone so much that hearing their voice for a minute could last you a lifetime.
A very delicately flavored movie that will leave a lasting taste on your mind-buds. Go watch it! No popcorn, no cola.
Rating: 8 / 10
- 4 comments
- Posted under Uncategorized
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Gino
said
The would definitely try and watch the movie. Esp after reading your review on it.
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sumit
said
having read the story and the fact, its in the trusted hands of accomplished artists like aparna sen and rahul bose, this movie is perhaps the most eagerly awaited for me.
it sure does seem to be a movie which one would remember long after its over, much like their previous works
you review has only served to whip up the appetite a notch higher
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geniusoid
said
When you truly love someone, minutes feel like hours & days. I guess the pace of this movie truly makes you feel what the duo went thru. You certainly would remember this movie…this one certainly should get Rahul a lot of accolades
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sudha
said
I am very eager to watch the movie after reading this review and also the writeup on the website of the Japanese wife. Aparna Sen always creates beautiful poetry on celluloid.. and what with Rahul bose and raima sen.
Waiting to watch.