Long time I updated my blog with a movie review. Chennai film festival made me quite busy with movies. 5th Chennai International film festival (CIFF) organized by Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation, Chennai (ICAF) started on 14th Dec. CIFF had lined up 42 movies from 120 countries around the world. Though I couldn’t watch all the movies I managed to get the glimpse of the festival in the weekend and also made to the evening show. I should say this time there were quite a good films than the previous 2 years.
Coming back to the movies, I will first share the about the movie which touched me so deeply. A true Spanish movie based on a revolutionist Salvador Puig Antich tied the audience to the seats. The movie is named after the protagonist Salvador (Daniel Bruhl), an anarchist and bank robber.
The movie starts with a fight between the cops and this revolutionary group. In this war Salvador is shot by Guardia civil Policeman. In that pressure Salvador’s gun triggers and kills Anguas Barragan, a police man. They both are taken to hospital and the cop died on the way. Salvador is saved and put in jail. Salvador narrates about him and his revolutionary movement against Franco regime and capitalism to his advocate.
Salvador with a group of friends becomes a revolutionist robs money from banks to spread the ideas of the movement. Because of his revolutionary thoughts he moves away from his father and his four sisters and lives underground. He is traced by cops and put in jail after the death of Anguas Barragan. Salvador is ill-treated in jail. His room is checked regularly. All the letters to him and from him are read. One day he reads the letter written by Salvador to his father. His opinion about him changes and slowly he becomes a good friend. With not of constrains and inhibition the jailer starts playing basket ball, chess with Salvador. But he is condemned to death.
Salvador knows about it one night that next day he would be killed. He is allowed to spend time with his family. His sisters try their best to make him happy sharing their precious movement together. His advocate tries all the ways to save him. But everything goes in vain.
He is killed and 1500 turn up to his funeral requesting for justice. His death kindled 1000 people to raise and fight for their rights. His dream comes true. During the funeral a voice over of his family members is given. That voice says they were happy that he didnt undergo so much torture during his death because his face was calm and clear.
The screenplay is stitched well. The basket ball sequence and the relationship with the jailer have been neatly portrayed. During the last hours of Salvador’s life the light keeps blinking, which symbolically means his life is also in the last stages. Cinematography is good. Editing pace moves from fast to slow whenever required. They could have reduced so much of build up in the climax.
A life of a revolutionist told neatly with the pain and grief. No wonder the movie got 14 awards and 22 nominations in all possible categories.
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