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| Movie Review: Amu Alternate Title: Pandora's Box
Story: Indian born, LA raised,
recent college graduate Kaju, decides to visit India to find her roots.
What she discovers opens a Pandora's box of trouble, heartache and discovery. Director, writer
and producer Shonali Bose created this warm family
story to bring attention to the horrors and help to right the injustice
of the 1984 Delhi riots. Shortly after Indira Gandhi
was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards there was a wholesale
slaughter of innocent men and boys in a Sikh slum in Delhi. The Government
and Police turned a blind eye to the slaughter as it occurred and were
part of the cover up. To this day only the two actual Gandhi murderers
have been held accountable. Director Bose was living in Delhi at the
time and worked in the relief camps after the massacre. It is a well constructed story of family, identity, history and justice.
The story telling takes its time and is worth the pay off for those
interested in a complex society with a long, winding, difficult history.
For more on the riots go to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Anti-Sikh_Riots Acting: Konkona Sen Sharma convincingly
plays the American raised Indian girl. She was named Best Actress in
India in 2003. The rest of the ensemble cast is believable and you care
for each and every one of them.
Predilection: I like 'all things Indian'. I did not
see this film with my longtime friend and Indianologist, Sunjit, who
is Sikh. It would have been even more rewarding had he been my movie
buddy.
Food: Lots of yummy looking Indian delights.
Soundtrack: I like Indian music and enjoyed the soundtrack.
Theater Audience: Five other women.
Weather: Hot and sultry in Delhi.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: The idea of wholesale slaughter of
a people is very squirmy indeed.
Drift Factor: I did not drift at all.
Predictability Level: Moderate
Tissue Usage: I teared up towards the end.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: I doubt that this film is going
to a theater near you but you could probably rent it soon. Also rent
The Namesake and have an Indian film festival in your own home.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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