The Green Issue

Vol. 1#3

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Contributors

1. Movie of the Month - Anshul Pandey

2. Vintage Movie - YasodaraKarunaratne & Vanditaa Dhoot

A Saahil Dama, Ishan Dabri, Krushna Dande production.

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Imagine when holding power becomes a curse. When an entire na-tion looks up to you in the time of need and you just want to wake up hoping that this is all a dream. What kind of job would it be? Better, what kind of life would it be?

The King's Speech, a See Saw Films and Bedlam Productions venture, is much more than the breath of fresh air that you expect from Brit-ish cinema. It feels as if you have been placed in a snowstorm of the finest cinematic experience which leaves you drenched and totally blows out your mind. Tom Hooper, the celebrated British director who charmed us all in his previous film "The Damned United", continues to draw applause and award nominations for The King's Speech.

The story is set in the backdrop of the Second World War with King George V at the helm of British Empire and his younger son, Prince Albert, as the Duke of York. Prince Albert (or Bertie as his family mem-bers would call him) is suffering from speech impediment and has consulted various doctors and tried numerous therapies but to no avail. Princess Elizabeth (played by the ever-so-charming Helena Bon-ham Carter), undeterred by the various failures and Prince Albert's wavering confidence, tries to consult an Australian speech therapist, Mr. Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), in a last ditch attempt. The unconventional styles of his treatment and out of the box experi-ments cause many awkward moments for the Prince but despite all the hiccups, the treatment gets underway and in an efficient manner.

Meanwhile, with the death of King George V (played by Michael "Dumbledore" Gambon), his eldest son Edward, a womanizer, ascends the throne. King Edward VIII becomes notorious for his relationship with Wallis Simpson (played by Eve Best), a socialite and a divorcee.

The King’s Speech

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The relationship stretches to the point that the King tries to marry Wallis thus triggering a constitutional crisis since the King, being the head of the church, isn't allowed to marry a divorcee. Prince Albert then tries to persuade King Edward against the marriage but the King mocks him and accuses him of planning to usurp the throne by citing his elocution lessons as a proof. King Edward goes on to abdi-cate his throne and marry Wallis Simpson thus leaving Prince Albert (now King George VI) as the head of the empire.

What unfolds is a dramatic sequence which is worth watching over and over. David Seidler's screenplay comes out with shades of phe-nomisity and excellence. It really isn't the kind of drama that you expect; slow and patient - bordering on the point of frustrating - but engaging all the while.

Logue helps the King get over the hysteria and tension of becom-ing the king. As World War II breaks out and Prime Minister Baldwin resigns, all hopes get pinned on to the King to deliver a magnificent speech, to be heard all over the world by his subjects, to inspire and instill confidence and boost morale of his troops. The King, with the help of his friend Lionel Logue, rises to the occasion and delivers a speech - without stammering - which leaves even his elder brother stunned.

What makes the film click in the audience's mind is not the royal scenery or the periodic backdrop. Rather, it is the relationship be-tween the two individuals, one royal and affluent and other just a common man, which keeps the viewer hooked on to the screen.

The performances of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are par excel-lence and have been amply rewarded with a rich dose of award nominations. Helena Bonham Carter slips gently into the persona of Queen Elizabeth and delivers a performance worthy of rivaling that of Helen Miller's on any fine day. Guy Pearce deserves a special

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mention as it is his character that ads all the more complexity in the already complicated matters of the Royal Family. Michael Gambon and Derek Jacobi are as charming as ever.

With 14 BAFTA Nominations and 12 Oscar nominations, one can hardly afford to miss the movie. A must-watch for laymen and ex-perts alike.

- Anshul Pandey

Anshul is the author of http://stirrupking.blogspot.com/

A Saahil Dama, Ishan Dabri, Krushna Dande production.

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They say boys are not true men until they have watched The God-father and nothing ever could have been said in truer words. Explo-sives, knives, machine guns, pistols, uppercuts, raw fighting, sexy men in tuxedos - you name it, we guarantee that it’s there in this movie. For countless years after its release, hordes and hordes of mafia films of all cultures have flooded the film industry upon which they have always been consciously or unconsciously compared to The Godfather: an unfair comparison most would say as only the sequels have been able to outrun The Godfather.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the plot revolves around the Cor-leone family of which Don Vito Corleone played by Marlon Brando is the Godfather. It is strongly believed that casting Marlon Brando as the main character was one of the many reasons for the movie’s suc-cess due to his unique voice and legendary acting in the movie itself evidently enough to win him the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The movie opens up on the day of Vito’s daughter’s (Connie’s) wedding where various big-shots come asking for help from Vito because in Sicilian customs, “no man is to refuse a request for help on the day of his daughter’s wedding”.

Among these pleas comes forth a request from Virgil Sollozzo in protecting the Tattaglia family's planned heroin business: a request which Vito declines due to his aversion to the drug industry and due to the potential problems to his influence in politics. However, out of suspicion, Vito has one of his men find out more about Sollozzo which turns out to be unsuccessful as Vito’s man is garrotted to death. This is where the beef starts.

Vintage Movie

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From this point begins a ruthless and interminable war where all the mob families in New York are convulsed with bloodshed includ-ing the Corleone family, at which the audience is greeted with the grand transformation of Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino who transforms (an apparent yet immensely effective and entertaining deus ex machina) from an innocent bystander to a ruthless manipu-lator, even more callous than Vito ever was. Want to know more? Watch the movie.

Many of the issues and themes delineated in the Godfather are all universal in scope. A father’s bequest, dangerous desire for respect and the unscrupulous mastery of power are all complications of everyday life which have been intelligently moulded into this cin-ematic blender hence appealing to an array of audiences. Its effect on pop culture is herculean in nature as without its significance in crime and family, The Goodfellas and The Sopranos would have not been created. In addition to this, kissing the Don’s ring has now be-come a tradition amongst mafia families as means of paying respect to the Don and Don Vito's line "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" was voted as the second most memorable line in cin-ema history. In short, the Godfather has unconsciously helped us to understand the prominence of family whilst being aware of the cor-ruption mastered by power and the hunger for respect.

- Yasodara Karunaratne & Vanditaa Dhoot

A Saahil Dama, Ishan Dabri, Krushna Dande production.