#Home – movie review

Many a time after watching some movies, I’ve asked myself, how in the world anyone could make such a movie and how did they possibly managed to assemble their crew leave alone financed. #Home is one such movie which leaves one perplexed as to every aspect of its creation. To call it a movie in itself is a contradiction for it doesn’t stick to any formula or norms of a normal movie and is in fact a collection of life events, candidly canned. I would love to see some making portions included along with the movie DVD release, where in the story narration sequences between the director and lead actors can be shown. The way they’ve all performed, it is impossible to not believe it is their own life story. Again writing a review for such a simple yet complex movie is a task in itself. I actually wanted to glorify the movie, but the more I think about it, can only compare it with other duds and crib about how bad other movies are as compared to this one. At times, being simple and defining simple is the most complex of things.

The story begins with a man in his late fifties or early sixties mopping the floor off urine passed by his dad. The family consists of a grandpa, his son, wife and their 2 kids. A leaking fish tank breaks down and floods the floor again which results in the call made to the eldest son eventually resulting in his visit home. The younger one, probably a college goer, is shown playing video games and making Instagram/YouTube videos of himself on his own channel which he tries hard to promote. Half asleep, he shouts out for his mom all the way in the ground floor having knee problems, to switch off the fan in his room. The dad has tough time in understanding the gadgets in the house, especially smart phone and undergoes typical situation faced by post retirement men. He has his childhood friend for company on his morning walks and manages a terrace garden of his own. All these are shown within the first 10 minutes of the movie !!! So much detailing, so much backstories and reasoning for the characters and their depiction!!! And yet so relatable and simple. Every single character would’ve been someone either within our family or at best some one known to us very closely. Be it the travails of the elder son, the carefree nature of the younger one, the issues faced by the mom in managing household chores along with her health, the elderly grandpa with his ailments, even the guy who comes as childhood friend of the dad, he has his own backstories, family situations. Best part being, there is no villain or not one single negative character in this whole bunch. As kids grow up, how they take things for granted and the embarrassments which dads of the world go through post their retirement, especially against technological advancements, trying to learn or understand a new gadget with thousands of questions, only to be discouraged by their kids. There is a side message as well on addiction to devices and how it is harming the present generation. With a side story to glorify the dad character in the end.

Special credits to the casting and the scriptwriter. Each of the scenes and their lead up to the next one are so genuine that, in no time, one gets hooked into the setup. The best of the lot is obviously the actor playing the dad’s role. He is fantastic and has breathed life into a complex character that has to be vulnerable, funny, sad, attentive and seeking attention, respectful and seeking respect, meek yet having an indomitable spirit as shown on the extraordinary story. Next up is the elder son who has simpler reactions yet conveys deep emotions of all the struggle that a creative person undergoes. He is equally matched in performance by the one playing the younger son, whose character could’ve garnered most hates if overdone and could’ve been an aberration if underplayed. Rest of the cast and characters are also so perfect that they almost resemble a real family. I loved the climax where in, knowing the greatness of his dad, the son doesn’t resort to any histrionics or over the top display of affection or emotion. His ego is still at play when he quietly sits near the fish tank with the book in hand. It is his dad who comes and sits next to him. Instead of asking for sorry he smiles at his dad and kisses him on his cheek, which is immediately reciprocated by the beaming dad, satisfied with acceptance. So poetic, realistic and yet so fulfilling. For this scene alone, the movie deserves an Oscar. Typical to any Malayalam movie, there is a definite and deliberate slowness in the pacing and I don’t get the context of having the grandpa character from the story relevance perspective. That apart, #home is a beautiful movie, most important for these times and comes with a clear and critical message. Be it about the emotional quotient offered by healthy homes or on the pitfalls of overusing smart phones.

Gils verdict - #home is where the heart is and hope the Oscars take note of it.