Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Director: Isao Takahata

Cast: J. Robert Spencer, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi

Genre: Animation

Plot: Beautiful animated feature, about a brother-sister and their lost family, set toward the end of WWII when Japan is under constant air raids.

The story has been told in a flashback by Seita’s (brother) spirit. The essence of the movie forbids war and it basically shows how a society pays for a war, how innocence (read young Sutsiko) suffers.

One might argue technically movie is not as accomplished as some of today’s animated features but that would be a folly as there is a unique liveliness in the 80’s animation and the background music compliments it perfectly – rendering it extraordinarily moving.

8/10

Bicycle Thieves (Italian, 1948)

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell

Genre: Drama

Plot: In the times of great depression--post WWII--a poor man searches for his stolen bicycle without which he won't be able to retain his new job.

It is an economically unstable time and an average family is barely scraping a living. The movie focuses on one such family–husband, wife, their son, and an infant daughter.

The father-son duo take the movie forward. Their interactions and simple day-to-day things have been brought on screen very aesthetically. There are obviously no wide-angle or high-flying shots or anything grand in terms of camera work, the strong point of this classic is showing life onscreen as it is in reality.
   

Everybody is leading a life hardships, and has accepted poverty as being a way of life. Knowing all too well, even in want there is hope, there is love, and family bonding strong as ever.  

No scenes have been pictured with “glumness” as such, but watching these scenes the melancholy that surrounds you is a testimony to director's class.

It is not a movie with fairy tale ending rather a perfect ending. In the end, the protagonist resorts to desperate measures and repents, leaving us all with a sad thought, a bit of pondering and harsh realities.

8.3/10

Once Upon A Time In The West (Italian, 1968)

Director: Sergio Leone

Cast: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale,  Jason Robards

Genre: Western

Plot: A newly widowed is trapped between three men - First one is trying to kill her, second one is a suspect murderer of her husband and the third is a mystery!

Another classic by the King of Westerns!

Mother of all movies in terms of innovative backgrounds score and cinematography!

Some notable high-points of the movie:

•         Masterful use of ultra-widescreen cinematography
•         Detailed long shots which have certain tranquility about them
•        First negative role for Henry Fonda.
•         State of art sets.

Enough to make a cinema fanatic desire it!

There is so much depth in each and every frame that mere words can’t explain. It is an experience to be had.

An avant-garde masterpiece yet to be bettered!

8.9/10

The Boy With Striped Pyjamas (2008)

Director: Mark Herman

Cast: Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis

Genre: Drama, War 

Plot: An emotional, heart-wrenching drama set during the Holocaust events of WWII. This brilliant movie shows the "death of innocence"...quite literally.

A young German boy, Bruno (Asa Butterfield) befriends a young Jewish boy, Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) after Bruno's family relocates to a new place. Bruno's father (SS Commander) is in charge of the prison camp where Shmuel is detained with his family as a prisoner.

This prison camp is actually a Nazi Death Camp-a fact Commander has concealed from his wife and family. Commander's wife is devastated once truth dawns onto her.

Innocent Bruno isn't aware what a Death Camp is. For him all the prisoners in Striped pyjamas are participants in a game. He visits the prison boundaries secretly and plays with Shmuel - who is equally unaware about realities. Bruno also convinces Shmuel that it's all a game and they together decide to look for Shmuel's missing father.

Back at home Commander and his perturbed wife realize that Bruno is missing. They track him down to the Prison.

But now the Game might have gone a bit too far.

Without a shadow of doubt a movie that impacts your soul deeply.

8/10

King's Speech (2010)

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush

Genre: Drama, Biography

Plot: Real life story of King George the VI and his battle with speech deformity.

Incredible performance by entire cast. The chemistry between King George 'Bertie' (Colin Firth) and his ahead-of-time Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) is backbone of the movie.

The development of friendship between a 'Royal' and a somewhat 'Rogue' has been captured immaculately, their ups and down, the Royal snob, common man's perseverance--it is all perfection personified.

Indeed a high point for cinema in terms of direction.

8/10