"The Lunch Box" Film Review
The Lunchbox
A few months ago, I went to a screening of The Lunchbox for Washington Square News. It should be available on DVD relatively soon. If you're interested in seeing it, read my review below!
The Lunchbox, directed by Ritesh Batra and starring Irrgan
Khan (Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire) and Nimrat Kaur. The premise of the film
is about a lonely, underappreciated wife, Ila, who realizes the lunchbox she
packs for her ungrateful husband every day is going to another man, Saajan, who
lost his wife years earlier. Slowly, they begin exchanging notes each day
through the lunchbox. By sharing their lives, worries, fears and dreams with
each other, they connect without knowing truly whom they are communicating
with. Meanwhile Ila’s husband is receiving Saajan’s lunch from a restaurant,
and has no idea there is any difference (all the more proving his ignorance).
While the main romantic element of
note exchanging between Ila and Saajan is sweet, it is the other relationships
interweaved in the film that propel the story forward. Saajan and Shaikh, his
somewhat exasperating follower who is set to take over Saajan’s job when he
retires in a few months, slowly become friends as Saajan’s heart is warmed by
Ila’s cooking and words. Simultaneously, in the apartment above Ila’s is a
hysterical old woman called “Auntie”, who very willingly doles out advice and
the occasional spice through a hanging basket. All we ever hear is Auntie’s
voice, yet her character is very compelling through her yells down to Ila.
Auntie and Shaikh’s comedic arrival is undoubtedly welcome after some
sluggish-moving scenes between Ila and Saajan.
The film was certainly suspenseful, with the audience unsure
of where the story was heading. Will Ila’s husband finally realize that he’s
not eating his wife’s food anymore? Will Saajan arrange a meeting between the
two of them? Will Ila leave her husband for Saajan? Will Ila’s daughter find
out about her parents’ troubles? What will become of Auntie and Shaikh?
The lunchbox system in India is extremely impressive,
though the premise of the film is about a singular, fateful hiccup in the organization.
Perhaps this mistake adds to the romantic element of the film. They were so
meant to interact that the perfectly orchestrated lunchbox system, praised by
countries all over the world, could not compete. Although I’m not sure I
completely agree with the course (no pun intended) the film took after the
initial excitement of the first few notes through the lunchboxes, I certainly
think that the character development of Ila and Saajan was well-done. The film
is so focused on their relationship, that the audience can sometimes forget
what else is happening in the world outside of them. Romantic? Perhaps. But
this also puts a great pressure on the two main characters, and I’m not sure
the writing completely keeps us riveted.
After seeing this film, if you do not want a full-course,
homemade Indian meal, then your mind must have been elsewhere, perhaps on your
own fluctuating relationship. Each scene seemed to contain more delicious
Indian food than the last. The Lunchbox, while romantic in an old-fashioned
sort of way and rib-tickling in between, certainly had my mouth watering.
posted by Unknown @ 7:35 AM
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