ALI ALI
dir. Rishabh Jain

In the first moments of the film, we already know where we are. In a rural Indian village, in between kids, who love to play cricket.

One is escaping with the cricket bat; the others are chasing. It's a great opening. Chasing is the base of the film since Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Good company.

Ali's only valuable asset is his cricket bat; he could buy friendship and popularity. When he runs home and takes away his bat from the game, it will be more valuable because others cannot play anymore. Ali is satisfied, and the spectator also believes in the bright future when Ali's assets will be more valuable and when he will let the others play again. We believe—so does Ali—he will be crowned somehow the next day.

But the turning point comes quickly. Other kids made a homemade cricket bat, and this inflated Ali's bat at once. He is not the king of the fild anymore. The evil kids take their revenge; they put Ali to the side and humiliate him and his bat too. We are still with Ali, but OK, other kids have the right to play too. Kalu, the other kids' leader, is also a skillful boy who can lead the team and can create a so-called bat. Should we choose a side now? Who is a better leader, the original bat owner Ali or the new king of the field, Kalu? We can't make the decision; a storm is coming, so kids should suspend the game...

But not just the rain is coming, but a new turning point! Wow, the 4th wall collapses, and an AD runs in the picture, giving instructions to Ali! Why is he not giving his bat to the others? And the complication is going on; Ali is escaping, not just from the kids but from the film crew too.

It seems Ali could not separate the truth from the fiction; he thinks if he gave the bat in the film, he would not get it back in real life. Maybe he is right; maybe not. But it seems his uncertainty has destroyed the aim of the filmmakers and the y could not finish their film. Or who knows?

Ali-Ali is a great film; it shows us a fictional world where the kids are kids, but it is as perfect as a good documentary. After a quick turn, it shows us a documentary where filmmakers struggle with actors, time, and weather, etc., but as funny as a feature film. The spectator is uncertain from the beginning to the end: what is the truth and what is the fiction?

I really loved the way of the photography, the music, almost everything. If I should mention weak plots of the film, like if the 4th wall is already broken, I would like to know more about the filmmakers and their attitude. I love to know more about the director and Ali's relationship. When did everything go wrong? What does the grip guy think about this? Or anyone else? HOw does the Indian "indi" film crew works?

The film Ali-Ali is one of the most entertaining films I saw, and that's thanks to great casting, characters, and rhythm. Thanks to the location and the perfect representation of the color locale.

Congratulations.

9/10