Mumbai Film Festival 2016: Day 2 Must Watch!

Here’s our recommendations for the 2nd day of the movie extravaganza. We have very little info about Indian films playing in the fest. On getting to know more about them, we hope to put up a separate post recommending only the Indian films, before the festival begins.

So here are the unmissable ones from Day 2 :

PVR ICON (INFINITY)
10:00 am – After the storm
Kore-eda is one of the most deeply affecting filmmaker around the world. He has the knack of heartfelt, engaging, minimalist family dramas. This one is in the similar mould. If you have enjoyed his ‘Like Father, Like Son’, you would enjoy this one too.

The film is about a dissolute detective trying to reconnect with his distrustful family after the death of his father.

1:45pm – Land of the Enlightened
Thanks to our reader Manjeet for bringing this film to our attention. Check out its trailer. It seems to be a fascinating blend of documentary and fiction based in Afghanistan. 

4:00pm – The Salesman
A Farhadi film doesn’t need our recommendation. His name itself is enough for people to queue outside the screen. Just to reassure you that Farhadi is in top form – the film has won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes and the lead actor has won the Best Actor Award.

PVR ECX

12:00pm – Don’t Call Me Son
This film has a terrific plot: A young boy gets the shock of his life when he learns that the person he has grown up calling his mother is actually someone who had kidnapped him as a child. As he is trying to cope up with this shocking development, he will finally meet his biological family.

The acting has received unanimous praise on the festival circuits. This one promises to be a riveting drama!

Here’s the trailer .

5:30 pm – Cecilia
An Indian documentary about child trafficking, Cecilia seems to be a heartfelt film that adopts a sympathetic gaze on a mother of a child trafficking victim.

6:15pm – Tower
You can read our previous post on why we recommend this film.

8:45pm – Apprentice
You can read our previous post on why we recommend the film.

La Reve (Globus)

12:00 pm – Graduation
Cristian Mungiu is one of the most reputed Romanian director in the festival circuit. ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ had won him the Palme d’Or in 2007, while ‘Beyond the Hills’ had won him the Best Screenplay at Cannes.

Graduation is about a doctor’s attempt to use all his influence to help his daughter clear the college entrance exam. But the ideas he comes up with to help her are all against the principles he has taught his daughter. He finds himself caught in an ethical conundrum.

Peter Bradshaw has given the film a five on five!

PVR PHEONIX

11:00am – The Little Prince
An animated film adopted from the French Novella by the same name will charm adults and children alike!

1:30pm – Nakom 
A talented medical student has to return to his native village upon his father’s sudden death. It is a rooted and authentic drama about the age-old conflict between progress and tradition. Here’s a glowing review of the film – http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2016/02/22/berlin-film-festival-2016-nakom-review/

6:30pm – Lantouri
A redemption tale of an acid attack survivor, this film would be something we Indians could certainly relate to. Hollywood Reporter has loved it – http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/lantouri-berlin-review-866468

REGAL

3:15pm – Neruda
We have already written about why this one is recommended.

5:40pm – I, Daniel Blake
Ken Loach is one giant of British cinema. And the veteran filmmaker still continues to come up with high quality output.

An ill carpenter and a desperate single mother discover that negotiating through red-tapism for state welfare is a challenge they weren’t ready for.

8:00pm – Goodbye Berlin – We have already written about why this one is recommended.

PVR KURLA

8:30pm – Swiss Army Man
One of the most talked about films in the festival circuit, it is touted as one of the most original comedies this year. A man stranded on an island finds a dead body (Daniel Radcliffe) and together they go on a surreal journey back home. And yes, as you must have already heard it, the dead body farts!

PVR MULUND

8:00pm – Old Stone
We have already written about why you shouldn’t miss this film.