Hello, I take it you ARE the same maxqnz whose comments I've been reading at Carla's blog, aren't you? Thanks again for having indicated your (apparently new) blog! I was the first follower to register, too, it seems! About this question of film endings: obviously they are an essential part of any film structure, because that's what the spectators will see last, the freshest of what they will take away with them. So if an ending rounds off the meaning of the movie in an artistically satisfying way, the credit to the director is deserved, as in the films you mention here, which I too find very good choices (you should check Bimal Roy's Bandini for another interesting and debated ending - the refs are on my blog) But clearly too, endings can also be a major source of disappointment if they are a way to resolve the movie's tensions in an acceptable way for the audience, or according to values (commercial, for instance) which have no connection with the movie's real needs. Anyway, here's to more reviews and visits! cheers
Thanks so much for commenting on my baby blog, yves! I am that maxqnz who posts on Carla's blog. Thanks, too, for suggesting Bandini, I shall add it to my ever-growing list of "films I should watch". You're obviously a serious cinemaphile, much more so than I, so if you want to share more examples, good or bad, go right ahead.
You're very welcome, Shilpi. I would recommend starting with some of the links in blue at the top. They're my favourites and the ones I visit most often. I know you'll enjoy them. :)
I must admit that I only read the intro and the part starting from Dor because even though I haven't gotten around to Teesri Kasam and Pyaasa I live in the hope that eventually I will ^^; And Dil Se I can't remember much of since I was too young when I saw it.
But back to Dor - it was such a lovely ending to a lovely film. I could never tell though whether me associating DDLJ with it was intentional or whether it was simply because it has become such an iconic scene and thus any train chase sequence feels like it? Anyway, it felt to me like a happily ever after, not in the romantic sense sure but just ...you know that these two women are going to be friends for life and that is as precious as any filmi love stories happy ending.
As for what makes a good filmi ending... In most movies you know what the ending is going to be, but you can clearly tell those that made the effort to execute the resolution in a fresh way. I love how JWM's ending was a repeat of an earlier scene between Geet and Aditya - that just felt so right. And I LOVED Salaam-e-ishq's epic "yeh shaadi nahin ho sakti!" wrap up. And while most college-based movies have their finale on the stage (Isi Life Mein, FALTU, Always Kabhie Kabhie, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge - and that's just last 2010-11) clearly FALTU won by a mile because the performance they did was sincere, heartfelt and meaningful.
Thanks, nakhrewali! Especially for mentioning FALTU - that movie cops a lot of flak for being a "ripoff" of an American movie called (I think) "Accepted", but the ending you mention sets FALTU far apart. The core plot device was the same (rejected by every college, make one up), but that powerful, moving climax was a stunner. I did not see that coming. Obviously so very relevant to the Indian situation, and the shocking impact of going from "wow, that's cool" to "that's horrible!" made FALTU a movie with a message rather than a boozy teen comedy like the American version.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI take it you ARE the same maxqnz whose comments I've been reading at Carla's blog, aren't you? Thanks again for having indicated your (apparently new) blog! I was the first follower to register, too, it seems!
About this question of film endings: obviously they are an essential part of any film structure, because that's what the spectators will see last, the freshest of what they will take away with them. So if an ending rounds off the meaning of the movie in an artistically satisfying way, the credit to the director is deserved, as in the films you mention here, which I too find very good choices (you should check Bimal Roy's Bandini for another interesting and debated ending - the refs are on my blog)
But clearly too, endings can also be a major source of disappointment if they are a way to resolve the movie's tensions in an acceptable way for the audience, or according to values (commercial, for instance) which have no connection with the movie's real needs.
Anyway, here's to more reviews and visits!
cheers
Thanks so much for commenting on my baby blog, yves! I am that maxqnz who posts on Carla's blog. Thanks, too, for suggesting Bandini, I shall add it to my ever-growing list of "films I should watch". You're obviously a serious cinemaphile, much more so than I, so if you want to share more examples, good or bad, go right ahead.
DeleteThanks for providing that link to the tree at dustedoff's blog, wish I had more time to go through the Language Links I see here.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Shilpi. I would recommend starting with some of the links in blue at the top. They're my favourites and the ones I visit most often. I know you'll enjoy them. :)
DeleteI must admit that I only read the intro and the part starting from Dor because even though I haven't gotten around to Teesri Kasam and Pyaasa I live in the hope that eventually I will ^^; And Dil Se I can't remember much of since I was too young when I saw it.
ReplyDeleteBut back to Dor - it was such a lovely ending to a lovely film. I could never tell though whether me associating DDLJ with it was intentional or whether it was simply because it has become such an iconic scene and thus any train chase sequence feels like it? Anyway, it felt to me like a happily ever after, not in the romantic sense sure but just ...you know that these two women are going to be friends for life and that is as precious as any filmi love stories happy ending.
As for what makes a good filmi ending... In most movies you know what the ending is going to be, but you can clearly tell those that made the effort to execute the resolution in a fresh way. I love how JWM's ending was a repeat of an earlier scene between Geet and Aditya - that just felt so right. And I LOVED Salaam-e-ishq's epic "yeh shaadi nahin ho sakti!" wrap up. And while most college-based movies have their finale on the stage (Isi Life Mein, FALTU, Always Kabhie Kabhie, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge - and that's just last 2010-11) clearly FALTU won by a mile because the performance they did was sincere, heartfelt and meaningful.
- @nakhrewali
Thanks, nakhrewali! Especially for mentioning FALTU - that movie cops a lot of flak for being a "ripoff" of an American movie called (I think) "Accepted", but the ending you mention sets FALTU far apart. The core plot device was the same (rejected by every college, make one up), but that powerful, moving climax was a stunner. I did not see that coming. Obviously so very relevant to the Indian situation, and the shocking impact of going from "wow, that's cool" to "that's horrible!" made FALTU a movie with a message rather than a boozy teen comedy like the American version.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've heard people say it's a remake too but I've seen the ads and the tone is totally different, I think.
DeleteI shed quite a few tears during FALTU's climax - hats off to the makers for such a moving, insightful and heartfelt piece.