Color, 1996, 102m.
Directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Starring Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmulla Ponnamma, Urmila Unni
Second Run (DVD) (UK R0 PAL)
Color, 1996, 102m.
Directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Starring Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmulla Ponnamma, Urmila Unni
Second Run (DVD) (UK R0 PAL)
Arguably best known to English-speaking DVD buyers for his remarkable Rat-Trap, director Adoor Gopalakrishnan is one of several world cinema directors brought to higher prominence by the British label Second Run. Their second visit to his filmography, Man of the Story (Kath
apurushan), is apparently the first DVD release for this title anywhere in the world, which is more than a bit surprising.
Told almost entirely through the life experiences of Kunjunni (Vishwanathan), the film charts the journey of the Indian state of Kerala as it parallels his growth from birth to controversial novelist. Born under difficult circumstances and abandoned by his father, he grows up to see everything from Gandhi's assassination to the political upheaval of the '60s and the country's movement to full independence, all while realizing the social issues of his local community. This is emphasized by his relationship with the sometimes taunting Meenakshi (Nair), a maid's daughter living in his home whom he intends to marry one day. His mission takes him through a political awakening to Marxism and more than a few legal and financial troubles, eventually channeled into the written word with yet another twist still waiting ahead.
Quiet but powerful, Man of the Story is a warmly humanist film boasting some of the most intense, persistent use of the color green you'll ever see on a screen. The omnipresent natural surroundi
ngs are a surprising but effective choice for a film filled with multiple generations passing through different levels of social classes, all designed as a political allegory leading to an optimistic and subtly rebellious ending. The protagonist's physical limitations (including limping and a stutter, the inspiration for the title of his book The Hard Consonants) make him an unorthodox one as well, though it's really more of an ensemble film with a striking cast of young and older performers rather than a showcase for Vishwanathan (who never made another film after this).
The packaging for both of Second Run's Gopalakrishnan releases conspicuously compares him to Satyajit Ray, which is accurate in that they both focus on coming-of-age stories and love to use very vivid colors. Well known in the Indian film community with several awards under his belt, Gopalakrishnan has remained conspicuously absent from English-friendly home video for years (Shadow Kill is the only other one readily available), but hopefully this release will help fight against that trend. The transfer here presented in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio in which the film was originally shot looks terrific; apart from a couple of bumpy reel changes, it's in superb condition and really delivers those all-important hues. Some of the landscape shots are truly amazing in their richness, and the English subtitles are very accessible and well written. The one video extra is a new video interview with Gopalakrishnan, who talks a bit about the film (including his own explanation for its title) but more generally discusses his views on depicting humanity in film and his own intentions to depict a constructive, inclusive cinematic counterpart to our world. Film historian and writer Suranjan Ganguly also contributes a lengthy essay to the liner notes booklet, and it's definitely recommended reading. The first three pages or so will be very useful to first-time viewers as they sketch out some of the major historical events mirrored in the film, but be careful after that as it definitely jumps into spoiler territory.
