The Lunchbox (Ritesh Batra, 2013) aka Dabba
Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Karu, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox.
This has an open ending, characteristic of an 'art movie'. But ... logically, they can no longer communicate, so her note is to herself. The woman continues to allow herself to imagine an alternative to her existence with her fickle husband - in Bhutan. The man, however, has come to terms with where he has to live - not in Bhutan - and how old he is. So that's that.
One thing troubles me, in this thrusting feminist, PC world we now live in whenever we open our mouths or touch a keyboard. It is this: he has seen her. She will never see him. It's an inequality. The male gaze once again transcends. ... You may say that it permits her dream to continue without the awakening that perception would bring about. I say that it removes from her the option.
Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 31 July, 2019 | Now: 31 July, 2019