3/5
Stars
Before anything about this film is
mentioned, it must be noted that the director of ‘Gebo And The Shadow’, Manoel
de Oliveira, will turn 104 this year. The abundant experience showed in his
storytelling style. The film, adapted from a play, doesn't end up seeming too
different from a theatrical presentation itself. It revolves around Gebo, his
wife and his daughter-in-law, coping up with the notoriousness of his son, who
is an outlaw.
The film ends up becoming a compelling
conversational drama. First-rate performances by the cast, astute
cinematography and the simple screenplay, add a great deal of charm to the film.
Gebo, his wife, Doroteia, and
daughter-in-law, Sofia, are troubled by the prolong absence of Joao. While the
mother is anxious to see her son, who has turned out to be a dreaded criminal,
again, she is all the more saddened by the fact that her husband is hiding
something from her. Sofia, although quite eagerly waiting for her husband to
return, fears that once he does, things may not be the same. One day, Joao does
arrive but ends up worsening the financial and the mental condition of his
family.
The film is primarily about how much trust you
can possibly invest in your loved ones. It also deals with the fact that no
matter how miserable life gets, one should not do anything that leaves a
question mark over their conscience. The film is mainly a conversational drama.
Even the scenes hardly move beyond the living room, giving the film a play-like
feel. The dialogue is wonderfully written and even the subtitling is well-done.
On an idealistic level, the film is open to
various interpretations. The best thing about the film is that no character is
entirely righteous or negative. They have their own justifications for the way
they behave and it does make sense too. In real life, you don't seem people
undergoing a sea-change in their basic nature and that is exactly what the film
conveys.
The dialogues may get a bit monotonous. It
does get difficult following the proceedings in the middle where there's continuous
conversation among the characters. Even tougher, for those who have to read the
subtitles! However, the film is thought-provoking, without being overtly
preachy. Fairly gripping as well!
Shivom
Oza
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