Bollywood/Hollywood (2002)
I really think that Bollywood pictures
are going to become the next big thing in America.
Of course, I also thought that "Me, Myself and Irene"
was going to gross 300 million domestically, so what
do I know? I do know this: Bollywood films generally
appeal to me. They've got a really keen sense of cool
and a campy sense of style and Indian pop music is
just about the most gorgeous and delightful new sound
I've heard since 1979. There's something very appealing
about Indian movies and although I've only seen a
couple, I can't wait to see more.
"Bollywood/Hollywood," a Canadian
film made for Bollywood audiences, has a bit to overcome
for American filmgoers. First and foremost, they are
totally unfamiliar with the genre, so they will probably
be confused and amazed by this film. Some of it will
not be so difficult to get: The drama queen mother,
the wise old grandma, the absent father, the little
brother who wants to be Tarantino (or in this case
a Bollywood filmmaker), the wedding plans, the lovers'
misunderstandings and so many other mainstream Hollywood
standards will be easily recognizable by anyone whose
walked into a megaplex in the last 10 years. In fact
this film has much in common with "Pretty Woman."
But there are things that will surely
have them scratching their heads as well. There's
several references to Bollywood, Bollywood films,
its filmmakers, actors and actresses. There's much
about Hindi and Indian tradition that is similar but
also different to American culture. But most confusing
will be the songs. Yes, in the tradition of Bollywood,
the characters here bust out into Hindi pop songs
at a drop of a hat throughout the film. It doesn't
matter that this Bollywood device is described in
the film's dialogue as the characters' "inner dialogue."
American audiences may get musicals but they won't
understand how important the pop music is to the genre
they are seeing. I'm not sure I would get it if I
hadn't seen "Lagaan"
and a few other Bollywood films as well.
It doesn't help much that the songs
here, sung in Hindi, are not translated into subtitles
either. That's one of the things that is most disappointing
about this film. The dialogue is mainly in English
(with some accents of the actors really difficult
to understand) as the family does live in the Canada.
There is a little Hindi dialogue and some of it is
translated into subtitles and some is not. But when
a pop songs begins, and there are probably 7 or 8
in the film, the characters begin singing and a subtitle
introduces the song but that's it. We have to sit
through 4 or 5 minutes of a song and we have no idea
what is being sung. Oh sure, a subtitle tells us things
like: "The Lover's Song" or "Sue's Song: I'm Salty
and Sweet" but that really isn't enough.
Still, for me, it didn't matter.
"Bollywood/Hollywood" knocked my socks off. The film
is a pure delight. I love the music, it's so fresh
and interesting. And I love the colors, such a vivid
palette. And I love the characters and even grew to
care about them. And even with the standard plot and
some jokes that were just plan silly, I couldn't help
falling in love with the film.
I wonder if the rest of America
is capable of doing the same?
Note:
In English and sparse Hindi with
rare subtitles.
The cast and crew dance and lip-sing
to a song over the end credits.
Written and directed by Deepa Mehta,
an Indian female based out of Canada.
Filmed in Toronto.
The film references "Exotica" and
Atom Egoyan is mentioned as is "The Legend of Bagger
Vance" and numerous Bollywood films.
Mehta won a Canadian Genie Award
for Best Screenplay.
Viewed in Austin in March 2003
at the SXSW Film Festival
