Sonata

What happens when you confine three middle-aged, single ladies to an apartment n make them sip wine? They drink n start speaking. Then they drink some more n then speak some more. #Sonata is an English film directed by #AparnaSen, which is not intended for the aam janata, but should certainly be experienced by discerning audiences. Shabana has the best part n she's top notch. Lilette shines in a minor role. She's abused by her beau, but gives the impression of being okay with it. Aparna plays the more dignified part, she makes it clear that she cannot be bindaas like the other two. There is a twist at the end n the film closes abruptly. Rating 3.5/5.

Now don't get me wrong, the concept of three spinsters living in the same house is wonderful. In general I'm very fond of conversational movies which are based on plays, and the premise here of chronicling one day in the lives of these three women was very promising. Indeed, this setting of the huge apartment is well chosen and given the right context is really quite cosy. The problem is the script itself, which is often quite dull, but even worse, the English dialogue. Yes, whoever wrote the script but the English dialogue makes everything really unconvincing. First, it sounds like badly translated English which lacks idiomaticity and that colloquial quality that would make it sound like natural speech. Secondly, the actresses just can't make it real and all of them sound very self-conscious like they're reading their lines off the script for the first time. Yes, even an accomplished actor like Shabana Azmi is let down by the script and the English language, just as she was in another film by Sen called 15 Park Avenue (2005). Worse, even her bubbliness is a little too strained. I think it's more a matter of poor writing and direction, because she was excellent in Morning Raga (2004) and some of her non-Indian films. But here, both Azmi and the other ladies look very much forced and unnatural. I really wish I knew the reason behind this language choice by Sen. But it's probably less of a problem because her direction is probably the big problem here. The film under her direction mostly lacks credibility, and the everyday realism required of films based in one sole location is never here. Could work as a school play, doesn't as a film.

Highly intellectual movie with deeply embedded meanings. The way it is picturised is such that it gives a feel into the lives of the cast, the way they've flavoured it with culture is unique in itself and of course the twist wasn't anticipated at all.