L'Extraordinaire Voyage du fakir

The intentions are good, the combination of styles is interesting, but the result is disappointing. Bringing to screen a novel by French author Romain Puértolas ,'The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir', directed by Ken Scott tells the story of an Indian conman whose dream to travel to Europe comes true, only to be mistaken for one of the millions of refugees trying to find a place under the European skies. Bollywood meets French literature meets European road movies meets refugees drama meets Hollywood. It's a mix that works only to some point.

What I liked. The mix of innocence and bravura of the hero is well served by the acting of Dhanush. Cultural differences are treated with a light comical touch and some of them succeed beyond the stereotypes. The funniest scene that takes place in the immigration office at the English airport and it's gorgeous, combining music and dance in a way that reminds Bollywood but also the Hollywood musicals. The way the European prejudices towards people whom they suspect are refugees because they look different makes its point without being too obvious or insistent. And 'a real fake passport' is a bright line.

What I liked less. The use of off-screen voice is excessive and pretentious. True, the film brings to screen a novel, but there are better ways to do it than have the character read text. The way the refugees and their dramas are presented is schematic. The romantic story is not credible - not in the way it starts and especially not in the way it ends.

'The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir' tries to make its audiences feel well while dealing with serious topics. For me, at some moments it succeeded, at other it was boring. With less caution and more sharpness in the comical approach it could have been a better film. As it stands it belongs to the category 'only if you have nothing else better to do'.

I have not read the book so can't compare to it. But it's a nice feel good type of movie that has that sense of wonder and magic about it. There are way better movies of the genre out there, and to be fair a lot worse also! It's good enough, but nothing truly "extraordinary".

This is the sort of movie that they don't make anymore, the kind you remember as a child, where everyone is bigger and grander than in real life, where magic can take place, where romance can sweep the globe, and love conquers all. I haven't enjoyed a film so much in years.

One of the travel-based movies. A film with a nice/needed message for Indian kids living below poverty. Dhanush's performance was as usual exceptional. The story was good enough but there could've been some twists&turns in the screenplay to keep the audiences engaged.

This movie wasn't great but was delightful, simple, beautiful and Dhanush was lovable as he was in Raanjhanaa. Some reviewers wrote that movie wasn't a true depiction of India or refugees, but was it meant to be so?

It was kind of fairy tale story with simplistic treatment which might not be enough for some but i myself found this one soothing my heart and inner self.