Movie Review: Ship of Thesues

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Lara

@fly2me

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Posted: 12 years ago

#11

Review: Ship Of Theseus is a beautiful near-masterpiece

Aseem Chhabra in New York

Rediff

Ship Of Theseus is the film cinephiles have been waiting for, writes Aseem Chhabra.

Neeraj Kabi is a tall lanky actor with a calming voice and a smile so warm, exuding so much goodness that if he was a religious leader, many people would join his order.

In Anand Gandhi's near-masterpiece Ship of Theseus, Kabi plays a monk (presumably a Jain), an activist opposed to pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies testing their products on animals. When Kabi's Maitreya learns that he is suffering from the cirrhosis of the liver, he refuses medical treatment, instead deciding to starve himself to death.

As he brings the violence upon his body (some harrowing and moving scenes that reminded me of Michael Fassbender as Bobby Sands on hunger strike in Steve McQueen's Hunger) Maitreya also engages in a lively discourse with a young perky lawyer Charvaka (Vinay Shukla).

No one wins the argument whether the monk should think about the greater good or compromise his beliefs and seek medical treatment for his ailment. But in watching the monk's story -- the second in the three narratives in Ship of Theseus, the audience will be deeply rewarded with some of the best cinematic moments they have experienced in an Indian film.

For one there is Pankaj Kumar's mesmerizing cinematography -- long shots of monks dressed in white, walking in sparse countryside, to a haunting and a beautifully composed image of the same monks sitting on a rock as they stare at the ocean and Mumbai's skyline in a distance.

Gandhi's writing, especially in this segment of the film is rich, packed with some of the most intelligent and thought-provoking dialogues that I have heard in an Indian film.

And then there's Kabi's gentle, near spiritual performance. He continues to smile with every word he speaks, every argument he puts forth, even when he is in pain, lying wasted in a quiet magical monastery, that seems very far away from the Mumbai's loud, boisterous world.

In taking up three stories -- the first looks at a blind Arab photographer (Aida El-Kashef) whose life changes after she has a cornea transplant and the third about a stockbroker (Sohum Shah) who gets obsessed with seeking justice for a Mumbai slum dweller whose kidney has been stolen -- Gandhi examines the idea of identity.

The title comes from a Greek myth and questions whether an object (a ship in the myth) remains the same, even after many of its parts have been replaced?

Gandhi take three stories about organ donations and carries forward that same argument. As Vinay the stockbroker asks towards the end of the film, isn't a man made up of his parts? His friend responds saying there must be something else in us, otherwise wouldn't a person change if you replace his parts?

For his first feature film (although he has made a couple of celebrated shorts) Gandhi shows a real command over the medium and his flair to narrate stories.

The three stories in Ship of Theseus have very different tones -- the first examines art and how a blind person and then a person of sight looks at it (an idea explored even deeper in Jocelyn Moorhouse's 1991 Australian film Proof with Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe); the second a journey with a spiritual man and his ideas; and the third almost becomes a thriller, laced with some unexpected humor.

The beauty of all the three stories lies in how Gandhi ties them up in the end. A three narrative structure was first explored in the west by a group of young masters, although now it is overused -- with limited success, by some indie filmmakers in India.

But in Ship of Theseus, Gandhi gives us one of the most satisfying closures to a film.

If some sections of the audience start to tear up towards the end that will be okay. Those would be tears of joy and of discovering a very special film.

That Gandhi is an audacious filmmaker is an understatement. He has made a film with dialogues in English, Hindi, Marathi and even Swedish, making no compromises. And he mostly shot the film in Mumbai -- the city that brags about the growing number of 100 crore-club films.

Ship of Theseus will never join the 100 crore-club. It was not made with that intention.

But it has a right to stand on its own. I know there is an audience out there hungry for good new cinema. Ship of Theseus is the film they have been waiting for.

4.5/5

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Lara

@fly2me

Sparkler

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Posted: 12 years ago

#12

Movie review: 'Ship of Theseus'

The movie is a spiritual and uplifting experience that subtly and gently questions the pre-judgements that each of us can be accused of, based on a person's handicap, choice of career or the ideologies that they have embraced. And in a little way it manages to chip away some of the rust that we have formed around our opinions.

'Ship of Theseus'
U/A; Drama
Director: Anand Gandhi
Cast: Aida El-Kashef, Sohum Shah, Neeraj Kabi
Ratings:

Once in a while comes a film like this one, which along with shaking your core, also manages to make you grateful for being a humble part of the audience. 'Ship of Theseus' is one such rare film.

A still from 'Ship of Theseus'

Three stories set in Mumbai. Each so real that you can feel their breath on your cheek and each raising one question, do changing circumstances change the very fibre of our being?

The title, 'Ship of Theseus', is inspired by a Greek philospher's musing — if a ship that is changed plank by plank, log by log, will it still be the same that it started out as? The protagonists of the three stories of Anand Gandhi's film go through a similar fate, of that of the ship.

Photographer Aaliya Kamal (Aida E Kashef) is visually challenged but she with the aid of her other heightened senses and her voice-activated camera shoots great pictures. She is in the process of getting her cornea transplanted and is hoping to get her sight back. Even though the surgery is successful, Aaliya's hope for a better life turns into despair when she struggles with this new found sense of sight, which somewhat mutes her other senses, thus resulting in mediocre photography.

Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi) is a revolutionary who is fighting against animal testing in India. When he is struck with a liver ailment, he decides to practise what he preaches and refuses any medication that could have used animal testing. The idealist in Maitreya is challenged by a young lawyer (Vinay Shukla), who in the most practical manner tries to make the monk understand that all his ideologies will appear foolish and die along with him, if he refuses to allow himself be cured.

A stockbroker Navin (Soham Shah, who's also the co-producer of the film) is shocked to find that the kidney that was given to him could have been stolen from someone. He sets about trying to make things right, in whatever way possible, even "return the kidney", if need be.

Mumbai shown with warts and all, is yet beautiful (cinematography through a hand-held camera by Pankaj Kumar). Even as the director in Anand Gandhi is admirable, it is the writer in him that got me awestruck. For me, the highlight of the film is the spirited and playfully affectionate conversation between the monk and the young lawyer. Those dialogues are easily one of the best in cinema since a long, long time.

Every actor in this film has come up with commendable performances, but a special mention has to be made of Neeraj Kabi, who not only essayed his character with conviction, but also went through an alarming physical transformation, as he degenerates into almost a skeleton during the advanced stages of his illness. Think Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. Aida E Kashif (the Egyptian filmmaker-turned-actress) is brilliant as someone who's blind and vulnerable but with a tremendous inner strength.

Subtly and gently, with a quiet confidence, 'Ship of Theseus' questions the pre-judgements that each of us can be accused of, based on a person's handicap, choice of career or the ideologies that they have embraced. And in a little way it manages to chip away some of the rust that we have formed around our opinions.

Watching this movie is a spiritual and uplifting experience. Don't miss it, for your sake.

-Shubha Shetty-Saha

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Lara

@fly2me

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 12 years ago

#13

Ship Of Theseus Review

The parameters for watching Ship Of Theseus (SOT) have been set courtesy the many interviews of Kiran Rao who's the "presenter" of this film and filmmaker Anand Gandhi who makes his debut with this one. It's openly stated that this is an art house cinema and not meant for the popcorn entertainment loving mass. However, there's ample spoken about the film over the past year and the incessant appreciation that the film has bagged at each film festival gives enough push to a cinegoer to watch this stimulating fare.
You enter the theater mentally conditioned that you are in for a sublime, thought-provoking, philosophical film that, thanks to the massive applauses, is supposed to be a gem of a film. You are expected to look at it differently, to find meanings out of the various metaphors the filmmaker presents, to apply yourself and discover the message subtly conveyed. This isn't an in-your-face film which offers the story upfront. You are expected to delve deeper to extract the meaning. And if during the meticulous process you lose the plot, it isn't the film but your fault. Phew! Quite a daunting task is what this film becomes.
The movie courteously slips in the Theseus paradox which forms its spine. When deconstructed the paradox questions whether an object which has had all its elements replaced, remains fundamentally the same object. It's followed by another question that if it isn't the same object, which of the two (before and after) is essentially the real object. The philosophy basically coincides with Human existence, given the transformation a human life goes through over the course of a lifetime do we really continue to remain the person we were born as?
This crux of the film is weaved through three different protagonists of three different stories who are interlinked by one common factor - that of organ transplant. While the first story is about a Blind Photographer Aaliya (Aida El-Kashef) who after getting her corneas transplanted to better her photography skills, instead ends up being overwhelmed by the surplus of subjects and ends up losing her focus. The second is that of a monk Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi) who's campaign against the violence done on animals by pharmaceutical companies leaves his ownself in odds for he develops an ailment that can only be cured by consuming the pills made by those pharmaceutical firms that he attacked. In the third you have a stockbroker Navin (Sohum Shah) who comes across an organ-transplant racket and he tries to redeem himself of the guilt of having an illegally acquired Kidney by fighting for a poor to get his stolen kidney back.
This isn't one of those art films that make their point in a stipulated timeframe. SOT lingers on you through various extended sequences spread across 143 minutes and thanks to the exceptionally brilliant cinematography by Pankaj Kumar, you end up falling for each and every frame that captures the bustling city of Mumbai live never before.
The arguments presented by Gandhi through this film are very enlightening as well as engaging. Right from the philosophy of the blind photographer to the diatribe of the monk and his friend Charvaka (Vinay Shukla) or even the questions on morality raised by the stockbroker leave you with various thoughts to mull over.
But the drawback of SOT comes when you know that the filmmaker has only used the stories to conveniently put his points across. Except for the focus on passing the message, there's barely any effort done to establish the characters or the setting even. You would barely recall the various actors that aide his protagonists to present their arguments. Moreover, every story gets an abrupt end and before you realize, one story gives its way to another.
To sum it up, Ship Of Theseus is definitely a stimulating affair but not without its flaws.

Critic: Mansha Rastogi

(3 / 5)

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Lara

@fly2me

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 12 years ago

#14

A MUST, MUST WATCH!

By Shivom Oza, MovieTalkies.com

4.5/5

Ship Of Theseus - In Brief
A gifted female photographer, a devout monk and a money-minded stock broker, acquire a new lease of life owing to organ transplants. The film, directed by debutante Anand Gandhi, has been screened at the Toronto International Film Festival 2012. It was also screened at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival under the 'International Competition' section. Shivom Oza reviews this film.

Ship Of Theseus - Verdict
The film is a must-watch, not just for its 'intellectual' content or its technical finesse, but the relevance of its subject too. It raises quite a few questions on topics as diverse as – Religion, Culture, Morality, Righteousness, Social activism, the works. Director Anand Gandhi has accumulated great performances, breathtaking visuals, splendid dialogues, 'real' locations and more importantly, a fantastic subject, in one film. And this is no mean feat.

Ship Of Theseus - Short Plot
The film is divided into three stories. The first one is about a gifted photographer, Aliya (Aida El Kashef). She captures terrific visuals with her camera and can work wonders with her snaps during the editing. Rarely is she ever dissatisfied with what she's clicked. Aliya's considered an extremely special talent, not only because she is a great visualizer. Her gift lies in the fact that despite being blind, she is able to eke out a good picture purely on her sense of hearing and touch. Although blindness isn't a major handicap for her as far as photography goes, she gets a cornea transplant done anyway. Having gotten her vision back, it could be assumed that she gets even better at photography than before. However, she doesn't.

The second story is about a devout Hindu monk, Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi). He is known for championing the cause of animal rights and has been fighting a case against scientific laboratories for conducting product tests on their animals. Although he is in agreement with the fact that animals have to be butchered in order to conduct these tests/ manufacture a product, he is against their ill-treatment prior to their slaughter.

He shares his ideas about life, religion, existence and karma with a young law intern Charvaka (Vinay Shukla). Their conversations completely light up the proceedings and provide the much needed comic relief. At the same time, the ideas that they discuss are extremely thought-provoking and do get the viewer to introspect. Maitreya's problems begin when he is diagnosed with last stage liver cirrhosis. His condition requires him to take large doses of medicines every day. The dichotomy is that these medicines are manufactured by the same pharmaceutical companies that he's been fighting the animal rights case against. According to the monk, all existence should be considered equal and not just humanity. Does he go back on his ideologies and get the treatment done or should he practice what he preaches? The third story is about Navin (Sohum Shah), a young stock broker who has just gotten a kidney transplant done. Having been fixated to the idea of making big money, he never pays any heed to his 'social activist' grandmother's advice that he should go out, experience the real world and fight for something right. Navin comes from a different school of thought. His opinion is that going from village-to-village, distributing condoms amongst the natives is not really going to help. He means that an individual should put his/her own needs before anything else. Add a little bit of compassion, if you please, but largely it's about his/her self-interests. His dichotomy begins when he learns about a poor labourer Shankar whose kidney had been stolen in lieu of an appendicitis operation. Starting to get doubts about whether Shankar's kidney was transplanted to his body, Navin takes it upon himself to get to the bottom of the truth. His idea about life undergoes a change as well. All the three stories put forth important ideas. The first one conveys that your disability could actually become your greatest weapon. The second one conveys that one could compromise on their 'ideals' to save their own lives. The third one portrays the psyche of an individual who knows that he's been a part of something wrong and that the wrongdoing has worked to his benefit.

Ship Of Theseus - Technical
At no point does the film, albeit full of interesting and thought-provoking ideas, get slow or in filmy jargon 'meditative'. The dialogues of the film really stand out, especially in the second and the third story. Gandhi has perfectly imbibed 'Mumbai' lingo into the dialogues and at the same time, given them a universal appeal. A lot of scenes, for instance, the conversations between Maitreya and Charvaka, the banter between Navin and his driver Mannu (played bySameer Khurana), Navin's heated debate with his grandmother, among others, will evoke a lot of guffaws. And it should be noted that these scenes are not funny because they are filled with humour. It's because they talk about something that's real and relevant in today's society. It's the contradictions and the sarcasm that you will find funny.

The story, in itself, is a work of genius. Debutante Anand Gandhi has had the courage to come up with these issues, which are not much-talked-about, and has tackled them with lan. Another interesting aspect about the film is that it does not put forth rights and wrongs. You will find grey areas in every story and there is no 'convenient' closure provided.
There are times when you feel that the second story does slow down a bit. Despite having such well-written scenes, too much attention is paid to the visuals. You can't help but feel that the monk's story does overstay its welcome. This was the one and only flaw that you could possibly find in this masterpiece.

The finale of the film escalates it to a completely different level. It is a moment when all the pieces are put together and you start making sense of the rather philosophical quote that they use at the beginning of the film, "If the parts of a ship are replaced, bit-by-bit, is it still the same ship?"

The principal cast has delivered wonderful performances. It is difficult to imagine anyone else playing the three leads apart from Aida, Neeraj and Sohum.

The visuals have been superbly captured by Pankaj Kumar. The editor-quartet Adesh Prasad,Sanyukta Kaza, Satchit Puranik and Reka Lemhenyi have worked wonders with the film. Anand Gandhi has given India its 'international film' of the year.

Ship Of Theseus - Final Word
This film could redefine 'independent cinema' in India. It is not a deep film. You do not need to be an 'art-film' admirer to like Ship Of Theseus. If you do not agree with the ideologies conveyed through the film, you could take back the breathtaking visuals and the sparkling dialogue. There's something in it for everyone. A must, must watch!

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Lara

@fly2me

Sparkler

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Posted: 12 years ago

#15

Ship Of Theseus review: Of love, life and philosophy!

It touches your soul, this film. Might even give you goose-bumps, as it almost did this writer.

Three stories are intertwined with each other in ways we tend not to expect.

The first is about a blind photographer who roams the streets with a camera in hand and a walking stick in the other. Aliya (Aida El-Kashef) seems to intuitively sense the perfect moments and captures them with expertise.

You wonder how, and somehow you understand it as well. After all, we all depend on intuition more than we know.

Never shying away from sticky situations - she'll go to the scene of a road fight, enter random homes, point the camera at a stranger's face - her photographs are exhilarating and audacious. Also very different from those clicked by 'seeing' people.

And then one day she gets a sudden call telling her they've found an eye donor. Life changes in unexpected ways, making the viewer as perplexed as the character.

There's philosophy in every story, even if it doesn't make itself obvious. Like the time when Aliya philosophises about the art of photography, wondering if there is indeed any talent needed between the perfect moment and clicking a picture.

What an uncomfortable thought for an artist who may wonder if they have anything to do with that exquisite photograph in the first place.

Co-writer and director Anand Gandhi teases the audience by flowing into the next story without warning. Naturally, this style is a testament to the film's philosophy in itself.

The second story is about a monk fighting a court case against animal testing by medicine companies. In a heart-wrenching scene, that will have you looking for a 'not tested on animals' sign on every product you buy, you see an animal tested brutally for something as frivolous as shampoo.

Perhaps you see the ambience of a High Court portrayed authentically in a film for the first time. A young chap is enamoured by the monk, while also disagreeing with and arguing against some of his philosophies. Their debates (the monk talks of karmic record on the soul, while the young chap wonders if karma is 'cosmic revenge') are great fun.

But then the monk is faced with an ideological and moral dilemma. It's such a difficult problem, even the viewer wouldn't know whose side to take. Neeraj Kabi's masterful performance, also very physically demanding, is to be savoured.

The third story unfolds in the hospital (making you wonder if you're still watching the earlier one). Navin (Sohum Shah)'s grandmother is in the hospital. An activist and art-lover, she looks down upon Navin's focus towards just money-making.

But this young stockbroker surprises himself and his grandmother when he decides to pursue the case of a stolen kidney.

Gandhi gives us symbols to look and absorb. The tumultuous waves of the sea, a road with no visible end, the centipede, the beginning of the film that explains the Theseus Paradox, and of course the cave (aptly appearing towards the end).

With excellent acting, stories tinged with moral dilemmas and varying philosophies, innovative cinematography by Pankaj Kumar and Gandhi's sure-footed direction,Ship Of Theseus is a must-watch.

Give this film your patience, your attention, and you will be richly rewarded. Don't miss. You want to watch this one!

Rating: 4 stars

-Sonia Chopra

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Lara

@fly2me

Sparkler

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Posted: 12 years ago

#16

Ship Of Theseus Movie Review : Thought provoking!

July 18, 2013 11:54:48 AM IST
By Martin D'Souza, Glamsham Editorial

Eight lives touched by one magnanimous gesture. We will come to that later.

First, let us try and answer this question put to the viewers: ''Will a ship which is restored by replacing all and every of its wooden parts, remains the same ship?''

Tough question. The answers flow out as Anand Gandhi takes you on a ride, witnessing the lives of three people, all of who connect in the end. In retrospect, they are three different stories, having deeper introspection elements.

Yet, when the film finally ends, Gandhi binds the lives of these three to one whose actions changed their lives... for good. On the whole, too, he leaves you with food for thought. You marvel at the thought of binding one simple idea, yet it has been bifurcated so beautifully to drive home a point without shouting out loud.

Viewed part by part, it is intelligent. Viewed as a whole, it gives you the larger picture. This is subtle art. A film targeted for a niche audience who understand the intricacies of film-making and the efforts that go behind this art.

Even an ordinary viewer, fed on Bollywood blockbusters, will go home satisfied, enlightened and educated. But for that, he will have to endure a slow first session.

Aaliya Kamal (Aida El-Kashef) is a visually impaired and celebrated photographer in the process of undergoing a cornea transplant that will restore her vision. She clicks at the behest of sound, not sight. She is always in conflict with her 'live-in' partner who she feels is patronizing her because of her handicap.

The surgery is a success and Aaliya's vision is restored. But is she happy with her new-found sight?
Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi), an erudite monk, is part of a petition to ban animal testing in India. When he is diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, his reluctance towards medication is questioned and he must now depend on the people he's been fighting against -- a path he refuses to take. He prefers to fast unto death. His view is simple; animals have been cruelly dealt with in making medicines effective. A question is put to him. ''The ultimate aim was to give life? Is this cruel?''

Navin (Sohum Shah) is a young stock broker who has just had his kidney transplanted. He soon learns of a case of 'stolen kidney' in the same hospital he was operated upon. Shankar, a daily wage earner was admitted for an appendicitis operation. A month later, he collapses at work and realizes one of his kidneys is missing.

Navin is aghast. The date of surgery and his blood group matches. But when he is assured that no such kidney has been given to him, he decides to fight for Shankar. His fight leads him to Stockholm, Sweden. There he learns of 'kidney tourism', a frightening discovery. His conflict with his grandmother, too, falls in perspective when he comes back dejected.

All three characters, Aida, Neeraj and Sohum are first rate. The dialogues are witty and forward-thinking and the use of camera, more documentary than larger-than-life.

Now, for the very first line... think about it. What could it be? Eight lives touched by one magnanimous gesture... Three are on screen, five more unfold later.

Go watch it. I will not spoil the paradox for you.

Rating :

4/ 5 stars

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Lara

@fly2me

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 12 years ago

#17

'Ship of Theseus' review: Film will stimulate your senses

Resham Sengar

A blind but superb photographer, an ailing monk fighting for animal rights and a stock broker who has got a kidney transplant done are three characters whose stories, when woven in a single thread, can be referred to as 'Ship of Theseus'. A debut vehicle of Anand Gandhi, this film is strictly for a niche audience for a fact that it has been kept clear from any usual Bollywood paraphernalia that defines commercial cinema.

The premise of Gandhi's film is the Theseus's paradox, as first noted by the philosopher Plato, which argues that if the parts of an object (say a ship) are replaced one by one, would it still retain its original identity? And if the old parts of the same object are gathered to make a similar piece, then, which one deserves the right to be called the original object? The film debates over this paradox via the situations the three protagonists face in their lives, all of whom have got an organ transplanted.

In the first of the three stories, a girl named Aliya (Aida El-Kashef) can click remarkable pictures like a pro but her professional excellence goes for a toss when her eyesight is restored. Alia finds it difficult to cope with her new found vision that was meant to enhance her way of tackling her art. She finds herself dealing with the loss of her prized possession – her blindness – when she realises that she is no longer able to click pictures like an ace.

The narrative then moves on to the story of Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi), a monk fighting tooth and nail in the court of law against animal testing by cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. What makes this monk different from his breed is the fact that he is an atheist but believes that every human being is liable for his or her own actions and contribution of any kind – big or small- can make a different in the higher scheme of things. His belief system gets shaken-up when he gets diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and is left with no choice but to get a transplant done and give into popping pills tested on animals for his recovery. This section of the film debates on how realistic or practical it is in today's world to hold on to one's principles when life throws tough challenges on our path to test your diligence. And this is well highlighted by several dialogues exchanged between the monk and his 'protg', aptly represented as two sides of the same coin with conflicting beliefs. Like the protg argues, "What is the difference between you and a suicide bomber who is so convinced about the fundamentalism of his thoughts?"

The paradox gets a break here when the monk, after living with his principles with an unbearable pain, gives in to the need of getting a liver transplant done, thus giving up his old belief system for a new one.

The third story shows Navin (Sohum Shah), a serious stock broker, being prodded by his maternal grandmother to connect with his compassionate side by contributing himself to societal well-being in some way or another. Life presents this opportunity before him when he finds out that the kidney that now is pumping life in his body is actually a stolen one. It turns out that his kidney has been stolen from a poor man called Shankar. But further investigation proves otherwise. Navin, guided by the desire to do well, dedicates himself to the cause of restoring Shankar's kidney.

The story sums up the premise when the three protagonists unite at the same place for an event organised for the deceased organ donor of the lead trio of the film.

To put it straight, 'Ship of Theseus' is a film that has no one meaning attached to it; several conclusions can be drawn from it. It preaches and debates highly via the monk's tale. It does not attempt to give answer to the centuries old debate on the paradox. It rather aims to explore it even more in a storytelling manner.

Anand Gandhi's film should be strictly watched for three reasons: a) If you like challenging your intellect b) If you love art cinema c) If you want your eyes to absorb Pankaj Kumar's spellbinding visuals.

Rating: 3 stars