SIXTH HAPPINESS |
| CREDITS: Director: Waris Hussein. Cast: Firdaus Kanga, Souad Faress, Khodus Wada,
Ahsen Bhatti, Indira Varma, Nina Wadia, Nisha K. Nayar, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, Roger
Hammond & Sabira Merchant. UK/India 1998. INTRODUCTION: This brilliant little film that has garnered much attention at the London and Birmingham Film Festivals goes on limited release courtesy of the BFI. SYNOPSIS: Bombay 1962, Sera Kotwal (Faress) gives birth to her second Child. Born with osteoporosis, the boy is named Brit in deference to the Family's anglophilic nature and the common name for his condition "brittle bone" disease. As Brit (Kanga) matures, mentally if not physically, with support from his older sister Dolly (Wadia) and his deaf cousin Tina (Nayar), he faces the trials and tribulations of 70's Bombay as seen from a wheelchair. REVIEW: Based on Kanga's critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical book "Trying to Grow", the film which takes its name from Igmar Bergman's classic movie "The Inn of the Six Happiness" tells the charming tale of his own fictionalised childhood. While Wadia and Nayar have to pass the roles of their characters' younger selves onto Jarmishi Shivjion and Zeenia Mirza respectively the unique nature of his condition allows the 37 year old Kanga to play the same character from the ages of 8 to 18. The result is a masterpiece of thespianism, as a single actor is able to take a character from childhood through to maturity building and expanding upon his performance while retaining a common strand throughout. The fact that this is also the author creates an authentic and unparalleled exploration of one persons maturation. Faress and Wada are truly superb as Brit's parents, the mother taking his condition in her stride while stockpiling British produce for the forthcoming war with Pakistan, the father ashamed of his sons deformity leading him through a series of shamans and charlatans. Hussein started directing at Cambridge where he staged productions starring the likes of Ian McKellan and Derek Jacobi, before turning to television, making his breakthrough with "A Passage To India" in '65 before cementing his position with the likes of "The Glittering Prizes" and "Edward & Mrs. Simpson". Now, more than 30 years later, he returns to India for this stunning film. Relying perhaps too much on "talking head" shots of Kanga to hold together the sprawling narrative, which covers over a decade, Hussein's film brings you closer to its lead character than any film that I can think of. As you follow the trials and tribulations of Brit's maturation, you really start to care for him. An acting tour-de-force deserving of a wider audience than the BFI can give it, one can only hope the film does well, as character pieces of this quality and power are few and far between. Not to be missed, assuming you get the chance. Mutt's Rating: ***** |