Gentlewoman

Just an average film and can't understand the hype it created during its theatrical release. A story of a cheating husband and two women. The story line was not properly knitted either to create a grip in the story telling or why the characters were designed in such a fashion. The screenplay is absurd and the direction is pathetic. Highly amateurish direction as the director has no idea what he's doing. The bgm is killing everything and the music director is a highly wasteful product. Not even worth of three stars as it would construe its waste of time watching the movie. The writer director him self thought he is creating a revolutionary film, as it comes out too pathetically.

Alright, so I was really looking forward to "Gentlewoman" - missed it in theaters. Plus, Lijo's been making some cool choices lately (remember "Ponman"? Check out my review!). So, going in blind, no trailer, no clue, just pure Lijo love.

But man, this movie? Felt like it was trying so hard to be deep and artsy that it tripped and fell flat on its face. The whole "power dynamic" thing - initial Mr. Lovey-Dovey love gradually turned into alienation, and finally, two women become BFFs. Yawn. And of course, a cop shows up to drag the dullness along with jokes that died on arrival.

Okay, gotta give them one tiny clap - they didn't pull the usual "rural wife catches husband, with Kolai Adi (tap water fight) incoming, spewing forth 'Otha Amma.'" Small win there.

But the Frida Kahlo painting as some deep allegory? More like Frida Call-no as it felt forced as feeding the body to the dogs at the end. And the self-conscious arthouse lighting didn't do anything for the mood of the story.

In closing, the movie had interesting premise but it felt like it was trying way too hard to be cool and just ended up being total dud.

Nor sure why the rating is so less (6.x at the time of this writing)... I loved the film.

Plus 1. Lino's acting was excellent. Once again Excellent 2. The sudden twists in the film (at least two twists. But the first one was WOW!!) 3. The ending was excellent 4. No one is painted in a bad light 5. Special mention - The way Lijo drives the car (which is juxtaposed with the way the male protagonist drives it. Just before the scene where male drives the car, the Lijo character is sounding very humble and that she can't drive on city etc.)

Can be better: 1. It takes a long time to get the story started (some fifteen minutes could have been saved by removing that cooking scene in some one else's house, by removing at least one scene of daily chores - morning till evening etc.). But once the story picks up its pace Is excellent 2. The cinematography was distracting - in terms of the lighting etc.