Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 262

The Place Promised in Our Early Days – Review

After watching three animated films by Japanese director Makoto Shinkai, two of which ( & Garden of Words) I absolutely loved, I decided to watch all of his creations. So I started with his feature film debut, the 2004 flick ‘The Place Promised in Our Early Days’.

The story is set in Japan, but with an alternate history, according to which Japan has been divided into two feuding parts, one under the union’s control, while the other is backed by America. Two school students Takuya and Haruki are enamored by a high-rising tower on the other side of the border and start building an aircraft in the hopes of travelling to the other side and uncovering the secrets of the mysterious building. The boys make a promise to their friend Sayuri that the three of them would go there together some day. But they abandon their plan after Sayuri transfers to another school and disappears from their life.

While at the core of it, ‘The Place Promised in Our Early Days’ is a tale about friendship, love and promises; Makoto Shinkai throws in some sci-fi stuff which includes ‘alternate universes’ and the possible dangers of two worlds colliding. Both sides of Japan are shown to be working towards cracking the mystery of parallel dimensions and somehow – Sayuri is connected to it. So amid a technology race between two sides, will the three friends who are children no longer, be able to still fulfill their promise of flying to the other side? That’s really what the story is about.

The film felt a bizarre mix of a simple love story with sci-fi, and it just doesn’t blend well. The animation is not great and the story-telling is slow, overtly emotional and not very convincing. As a viewer, one might feel compelled to press the ‘fast-forward’ button multiple time or even lose interest completely. There is really not much to say about the film, except that it might turn out to be a disappointing experience if you have watched ‘Your Name’ by Shinkai.

It’s a 5/10 from me. You can find the film on Netflix.

Please check out podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF.

Listen to episode 23 about an underrated horror film & do subscribe to the channel.

10 Reasons To Give ‘Tumbbad’ A Thumbs Up

It’s been a while since the 2018 Bollywood Film ‘Tumbbad’ hit the theaters, but we still think the movie doesn’t get enough credit. So listen to the latest podcast episode of ‘Abstract AF’ for 10 spoiler-free reasons why it’s a pretty great pick for the weekend.

‘Irul’ Movie Review – Disappointingly Unpredictable

The most common complaint among movie watchers and book readers about disappointing works is how they are ‘predictable’. Do you know what can be worse? A boring unpredictable ending… an ending so conventional, that you imagine something wittier, but turns out it was staring at you in the face the whole time. You think ‘nah, that’s too obvious’, but the maker mocks you in the end, as if saying – ‘you didn’t think that did you? Gotcha!’. That’s the case with the 2021 Netflix film ‘Irul’, a crime-thriller directed by Naseef Yusuf Izuddin.

The story follows writer Alex (Soubin Shahir) who persuades his lawyer girlfriend Archana (Darshana Rajendran) to go an a weekend trip with him without their cellphones, claiming he has a surprise in store for her. Their car breaks down during a downpour in the middle of nowhere and they seek refuge in a house where they meet its owner Unni (Fahaad Faasil). As their conversation progresses through the night, it appears that there might be a killer among them.

The biggest problem with ‘Irul’ is the inconsistent writing. There are several little things that take place in the first half that are just do not sync with the twist that follows. The director deliberately misleads the viewers to give us what seems like an intelligent closure, however it’s preceded by too many plot-holes that do not fall into place. We are left to fill in the gaps in the narration by ourselves.

The ambiance of the movie felt a little too cosmetic, straight out of a horror film set, complete with unnecessary jump scares. Most of the plot unfolds in a sprawling bungalow that looks like those fancy home-stays we see on social media and cannot afford. The interiors are even fancier, crowded with antique pieces, old paintings, and shimmery wallpapers that went out of trend 100 years ago. Unni says he has a host of servants to help run the place, but we don’t get to see any.

The cast tries to hold it together and act out their parts to the best of their ability but the script-writing is pretentious and the slow pace brings the mood of the thriller down. It’s like the director couldn’t decide if he wanted to give us a art-house thriller or old-school horror, so he awkwardly mixes the two.

‘Irul’ means ‘dark’ in Malayalam, but unfortunately, this film is nowhere near dark. It feels like a parody play, the good kind, which builds in high expectations in the viewer’s mind, only to shatter them in the end. This Netflix film was disappointingly unpredictable. It’s a 5/10 from me.

Check out our podcast by the same name on YouTube – Abstract AF

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Poetry Month and A ‘Misunderstood’ Poem

April is celebrated as ‘Poetry Month’ in America every year as a way to appreciate the art form. So on the latest podcast episode of ‘Abstract AF’, we look at the form and talk about a very famous poem that some critics think is the most ‘misread’ poem in the world.

Listen in to the episode and please subscribe to the channel.

Hey, Kiddo – Graphic Novel Review

Have you ever hugged a book after you finished reading it? I did. Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s Graphic Novel memoir is so moving that I instinctively held it close to me, thinking ‘this book is so precious, every youngster who loves reading should have it’.

The tagline of the book said ‘How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction’. The author has dedicated the book to his grandparents, mother and to ‘every reader who recognizes this experience’. Jarret then takes the reader down the memory lane, first introducing us to his grandparents Joe and Shirl, who brought him up while his mother spiraled down the path of drugs and crime.

It’s incredible how kids can remember so much. Jarrett’s life turns out to quite an emotional ride, starting with his birth and ending with his high-school graduation. The story is interspersed with touching letters between him and his mother. Real photographs of the letters are included in the copy, which make the reading experience even more intimate.

“Hey Kiddo” is an important tale reminding us how a little love and a push in the right direction make things all right, even in the most difficult of times. Jarrett has his own art-style, with a childlike charm which is quite incomparable to other books in the genre. He uses sepia like tones that add a nostalgic effect to the panels, making his memories and story more vivid. If you haven’t read it, you must!

Please check out our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF!

Listen to episode 15 – about controversial graphic novels. Do subscribe.

Giovanni’s Room – A Review

Book no. 32 this year – ‘Giovanni’s Room’ by James Baldwin. Been wanting to read this one for a while, but strangely, it had been hard to find a reasonably priced copy online. And quite often than not, it would be out of stock. But finally stumbled upon a Penguin classic edition at a bookstore, when I wasn’t even looking for it (was out to buy graphic novels).

Let’s talk about the plot – it focuses on a Parisian love affair between the American Daniel and the fatally attractive Italian Giovanni. They meet at a bar and cannot keep their eyes off each other and soon find themselves sharing Giovanni’s cramped room… and bed. But nothing good can last too long. Daniel’s denial of his sexuality leads to tragic consequences when his girlfriend Hella comes back to Paris. He is quick to forsake the Italian beau. The title is of relevance, because like Giovanni’s claustrophobic messy room, Daniel feels that their relationship was choking him. The room symbolizes their shared love, lust and limits.

I had high expectations with this book, since I haven’t read much queer literature, but was slightly disappointed with how cosmetic it seemed at points. Despite being set in the 20th century, it felt older, and if not for the queer theme, it reads like several stories we’ve already read before. There’s a dramatic bond between the two leads, as if they are tragic leads from a Shakespearean play. They make intense declarations of love, but do little to make it believable. Some parts of the book felt like they had been ‘made-up’ in a way that would perhaps not upset conservative audience.

There’s no doubt that ‘Giovanni’s Room’ is a historic & exceptionally brave book by Baldwin, considering it came out in 1956. In fact, the author was warned by a publisher to not go ahead with it, claiming it would “ruin his career” & “alienate his reader”. For Baldwin to defy such warnings and still publish what would’ve have been scandalous story for the time, is applause-worthy.

What didn’t work for me in the story was just how hedonistic & extremely self-centered Daniel is; he has no job and leeches off others. It makes his ‘love’ ring hollow & their ‘losses’ not worth getting worked up over. Perhaps the author deliberately made the protagonist not very likable, to mitigate the shock of Daniel’s homosexuality – orthodox readers can maybe rationalize that only despicable personalities can feel that way. Intentional or not, the book could’ve been a little more meditative about same-sex relations. For most parts, Daniel is swimming in his own shame for having such feelings for a man, and never does redeem himself.

Baldwin’s story-telling is absolutely alluring in the first half, reminiscent of classical masters of the past, but loses its charm as the plot progresses. All that said, ‘Giovanni’s Room’ is still an important piece of literature that must be read keeping in mind the context of the time it was published in. In an era where there was a lot more hate, misinformation and misunderstanding of the LGBTQ community, this book makes the reader realize that love between two individuals of the same gender is no different than heterosexual relationships – it might start off passionately, but needs work and can end in a lot of hurt.

It’s a 3/5 from me.

Do check out our podcast by the same name on YouTube – Abstract AF.

Listen and please subscribe to the channel – costs nothing!

Rising – Poetry Book Review

April is observed as ‘National Poetry Month’ in America since the 1990s as a way to appreciate poetry and build more awareness for the medium in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the world cannot celebrate it too. And it also happened to be “Indie April”, so I decided to start the month with a poetry book by an Independent author. Two birds in one shot.

So book number 31 for the year 2021 and number 1 for April is – ‘Rising’ by Yong Takahashi. It’s a collection of 42 poems that explore themes of heartbreak, identity, family and self-worth. While the first two poems read more like short-stories, due to the free-verse style, things get more poetic from the one titled “Denial”. Some of the poems dealing with heartbreak are quite visceral, each line echoing pain; relatable to anyone who has suffered in love.

The majority of poems in the collection are almost Quatern-long (16 lines), while there are much shorter ones peppered in between, the kinds we call “insta-poetry”. So there is an interesting balance of both long and short pieces.

If you are looking to read new poetry, give “Rising” a shot.

Listen to Episode 17 of Abstract AF the podcast on YouTube.

Four poets recite their poems in this one (embedded below)

Bad Town Kids – Chapter 1 – The Witch

Listen in to Abstract AF’s podcast episode 21 to hear a free narration of the first chapter from ‘Bad Town Kids’, a contemporary fiction novel and Amazon bestseller.

Book’s blurb – The obscure little town of Dakhinpur is home to Anita, a sprightly young girl who doesn’t have much to look forward to except long conversations with her close friends – a reserved cousin, a steadfast best friend, and a neighbour who is somewhat of a rebel.

The four friends have a shared dream – to be inseparable, and to live on their own terms. But age, distance, and having to deal with regressive mindsets could tear that dream apart. And some of them carry secrets so startling, it might just challenge everything they’ve known about each other.

‘Bad Town Kids’ will take you back in time to a simpler era, where social media didn’t complicate lives, but growing up was still as hard.

The podcast episode is embedded below, do visit on YouTube & subscribe to the channel.

Oculus – Quick Horror Film Review

The 2013 horror movie ‘Oculus’ directed by Mike Flanagan is one mind-bending story that will keep you glued to your screen. Actors Karen Gillian and Brenton Thwaites play siblings Kaylie and Tim who are haunted by the violent deaths of their parents.

The official story on the deaths is that the father brutally murdered their mother and was killed by Tim in self-defense. The 10-year-old is convicted for his father’s death. However, Kaylie believes that her parents were driven to their deaths by a sinister antique mirror. Known as the ‘lasser mirror’, Kaylie claims it can induce hallucinations and can protect itself from any damage. When the two siblings are older, they attempt to document the mirror’s power to prove their Tim’s innocence and hope to eventually destroy it.

Co-written by Mike Flanagan and Jeff Howard, Oculus is an engrossing psychological horror tale. It first seems to flit between the past and the present and then one just cannot tell the difference, because the two seamlessly merge into one time dimension at some points. The viewer is left baffled, wondering if it’s the mirror that’s playing tricks on the siblings, or if their minds have been corrupted by the horrifying deaths of their parents. The makers throw in a pretty solid background to the mirror, tracing its origin to as far back as the 1700s, crediting it with the deaths of several of its previous owners.

Director Flanagan doesn’t rely on too many jump scares, but instead plays around with reality and illusions to create a dread within the minds of both the characters and the viewers. It’s hard to tell the hallucinations apart from the truth. There are a few graphic and gory scenes that would unsettle those who cannot stand blood and violence, but it’s what help make the film leave a more lasting impression.

The writing is compelling and tries to cover as many plot-holes as it can. However, the biggest question that is left unanswered is “how did Kaylie & Tim plan to destroy the mirror without any help?”. If you don’t let that basic question bother you too much, Oculus makes for an intense and interesting movie-watching experience.

Considering I am a big horror fan, it’s a 7/10 from me. It’s available to stream on Netflix.

Do check out our podcast on Youtube by the same name – Abstract AF.

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‘1000 Stars’ Sparks Up A Good Old Romance

The 2021 Thai series ‘1000 Stars’ is like a peaceful retreat versus all the city lights burning up other Bangkok tales on our screens. Directed by Backaof Noppharnach Chaiwimol, the series is about rich brat Tian (played by newcomer Mix Sahaphap Wongratch), whose life changes when a timely heart transplant saves him from the clutches of death.

The first episode starts with the shot of a casino, where college student Tian is gambling with his wealthy friends, two of the other protagonists are introduced in contrasting montages – Torfun a volunteer teacher is writing in her diary while travelling in a bus back to the city, Phupha (Earth Pirapat) the chief forest officer is leading his men in a night attack against intruders near the Thai border. Their worlds are poles apart, but it collides when Torfun tragically dies and her heart finds a home in Tian’s body. Curious to find out who his donor was, Tian learns all about Torfun through her personal diary. He then decides to become a volunteer teacher at the border village of Pha Pun Dao where Torfun taught and vows to live out her wishes. It’s where he meets Phupha and finds himself drawn to the strict but kind officer who is tasked to look after the new volunteer teacher.

Ten episodes long, the rest of the story follows Tian’s struggle to adapt to the frugal life of a volunteer teacher, having to live in a simple hut with no electricity, no network and just the bare minimum. Can the rich young man used to living a luxurious life in the city survive through the volunteer period and find love? Those answers are slowly unraveled in the leisurely paced episodes that capture the essence of the Thai countryside, culture and food. A lot of Tian’s interactions with the village children add an innocence to the story.

‘1000 Stars’ delivers a ‘good old romantic’ story, it’s not something we haven’t seen before, but it’s the charming characters, the cinematography that captures the picturesque and lush Thai countryside, and sweet little romantic tropes that would make most viewers fall in love with the series. It doesn’t have any of the modern toxic complexities of most competing shows in the genre, nor does it exaggerate plot devices to bring in laughs. The core plot of the heart transplant that makes Tian romantically drawn to Phupha, just like Torfun, reminded me of the 2004 Bollywood film “Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha”, which has a similar story – A dying Pari donates her heart to Dhani, and when Dhani crosses path with Pari’s husband Risabh, she finds herself instantly attracted to him. Although that’s where any similarity ends. While “Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha” miserably bombed at the box office due to a weak script and weaker performances, ‘1000 Stars” shines due to the lead actors, their crackling chemistry and smaller non-romantic sub-plots. The lead pair make even tried and tested tropes look good. The series also has the classic “class difference” that makes a romance between Tian and Phupha seem difficult.

Debutant Mix Sahaphah Wongratch as lead actor Tian is the absolute life of the show, he looks the part of an arrogant but gorgeous looking youngster, who transforms into a kinder, hard-working teacher. He captured the imagination of international watchers, with publications comparing his look to that of K-pop icon Jin from BTS, who is also known as “world-wide handsome”. Earth Pirapat as the stern yet caring officer Phupha delivers a nuanced performance. In the support cast, while the child actors weren’t very convincing in their parts, the older support cast act as pillar of strengths. Nammon Krittanai as Doctor Nam was one of the most likable characters, he nudges his friends to be more straight-forward about their feelings and is always giving good advice. White Nawat who plays Tian’s best-friend Tul had very few scenes, but whenever he does appear, it’s easy to see why the two are close – he is fun, easy-going and is supportive of his friend.

One of the other strong points of this series is the background score, it is riveting, with a lot of traditional Thai sounds that give the story an old school charm. Some sub-plots did feel a little dragged and could’ve been shorter, like the ones where Tian is trying to win over the village kids or the ‘villagers versus local goons’ story. The child actors could’ve benefited from some more acting workshops, because they have a lot of scenes and it feels like they were forced to participate in a school play. With a very solid support cast (most of the side characters have played main roles in other series), perhaps the team did not have the budget to have more experienced child actors.

But all the little flaws are made up by the season finale, episode 10 was poignant, touching and heart-warming. Like Tian’s exceptional growth as a person due to his trials and tribulations of living in a secluded rural village, the climax was a befitting culmination to Phupha’s and Tian’s tale. Their love is patient, unselfish, giving and mature; it’s not without complications, but is devoid of the dramatic trivialities of modern love.

Director Backaof Noppharnach Chaiwimol delvers a wholesome series that one can watch with the entire family. It’s definitely setting a new benchmark for Thai dramas. It’s a 8.5/10 from me.

Do check out our podcast on Youtube by the same name – Abstract AF.

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