skip to main |
skip to sidebar
West Indies during the 70’s and 80’s dominated cricket like rarely any team has in not just cricket but team-sports in general. The team was led by the imperturbable Clive Lloyd and boasted of some great batsmen, led by the imperious Sir Viv Richards. But at the heart of the team lied its battery of some of the most devastating fast-bowlers the game has seen - Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts et al. Thus Fire in Babylon, which chronicles the rise of this all-conquering side, is a goldmine for any cricket aficionado; but, like any good documentary, it has managed to be much more than that. The documentary has covered a slew of socio-political topics, including the likes of how a group of small island-countries (Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, Trinidad & Tobago, etc.), despite their different cultural backgrounds, had a commonality in the form of the severe oppression faced by their forefathers. Thus, when their juggernaut begun, it transcended the confines of the sport and became something far bigger than just victories on the field. The film comprises of a number of impassioned interviews, and has been regularly punctuated by fine reggae tracks. Though the film could have done with a few more match footages, but that for me was just a minor glitch in this otherwise well-researched and very well made film on one of the most incredible success stories of modern sports.
Director: Stevan Riley
Genre: Documentary/Sport Documentary
Language: English
Country: UK
Rabindranath Tagore was a polymath if there ever was one. The Renaissance Man of India (lovingly referred to by the sobriquet “Kobi Guru”, or The Great Bard) was a poet, composer, song writer, novelist, short story writer, playwright and painter (and prolific in each of these); he was also a philosopher, nationalist, educationist, social reformer, humanist, great admirer of natural sciences, and tireless spokesperson for world peace. India’s greatest genius and one of the most versatile geniuses the world has ever known, he was also the biggest idol of Satyajit Ray, a versatile genius himself. The documentary Rabindranath Tagore, which might as well be qualified as “Genius on Genius” (aptly quoted by one of my professors while introducing it to the audience), was made on the occasion of the bard’s birth centenary as homage to the Bengali Nobel laureate by one of his most devoted pupils. The film chronicles the life and times of Tagore, along with references to his fascinating lineage, his incredibly progressive philosophies, and his vision for a world sans war and violence. It comprises of both original footages as well as some dramatized sequences, with Ray’s baritone providing the stirring narration. Ray reportedly remarked about the documentary, “Ten or twelve minutes of it are among the most moving and powerful things that I have produced.”
Director: Satyajit Ray
Genre: Documentary
Language: English/Bengali
Country: India
Inside Job is a fascinating documentary that gives us an insider look into the chain of activities – some bordering on stupidity while others utterly despicable (and even criminal) – that played parts in the economic meltdown of the US, which ultimately resulted in one of the worst recessions of our times and that spread like forest fire to numerous other countries. The well-researched documentary has focused in length on the various facets, ranging from monumental financial miscalculations to insatiable human greed that give us glimpses into the murky underbelly of the world of finance – a world that includes in its foyer not just Wall Street honchos, investment-bankers and “financial engineers” with ludicrous pay-packets, but also seemingly respectable people like policy-makers, fin-gurus and professors at some of the most renowned universities in America. All these have been presented through a combination of discomfiting interviews and provocative background commentary by Matt Damon. Though it felt overlong at times, on the whole I found it riveting, disturbing and an eye-opening experience. Interestingly and ironically, this chronicle of the financial shams and scams that caused immense grief and loss to innumerable people around the globe, was screened by the Finance Club of our institute… poetic justice anyone?
Director: Charles Ferguson
Genre: Documentary
Language: English
Country: US
Compiled into a behind-the-scenes kind of documentary from over 100 hours of footage filmed during rehearsal sessions for his last planned world tour, This Is It perhaps comprises of the last few popularly released shots of Michael Jackson prior to his shocking death. At that particular stage of his life, he was presumably no more than a battered man driven, in his personal life, to the edge of sanity and nearly his last penny. Yet we see MJ literally belying his failing health and age through undiminished passion and strive for perfectionism. The fact that a person like him, who has been doing shows since he was a kid, getting so engrossed in the rehearsals and ensuring that every nuance and angle of the upcoming shows are covered to the last detail, is truly something to behold and applaud. Of course, we also get glimpses of the creepier side of his complex persona from time to time, like when he explains with graphic detail how the sound is hurting his “inner ear”. But, despite all our preconceived notions of the man, he comes off as a rather mild-mannered and soft-spoken individual, and a self-appointed Messiah of sorts. What was also interesting to note was his being surrounded by a bunch of sycophants trying really hard to please MJ with their overtly servile behaviour, and genuflecting to his every whim. The “film noir” sequences and MJ dancing to his enormously popular numbers were also fun.
Director: Kenny Ortega
Genre: Documentary/Music
Language: English
Country: US
