Serious Men
2020 · Directed by Sudhir Mishra
Original language: Hindi
- drama
- comedy
The story
Tormented with his 'under-privileged' societal status, a father capitalizes on his son's newfound fame as a boy-genius. Little does he realize that the secret he harbors will destroy the very thing he loves the most.
What it’s like
Crowded Mumbai interiors in warm, tired lamplight, with cramped flats, bustling streets and the cool fluorescence of an institute's corridors, give the film a dry, observant look. Its satire lands through deadpan framing and a stillness that lets absurd situations play out without underlining them, and the score stays sparse so the dialogue carries the comedy. The vibe is wry, bitter and quietly tense, with a deadpan humour that sits close to unease. It suits an evening in with full attention, rather than background viewing. The pacing is measured and sometimes sharp, and its characters are shaped by ambition, class humiliation and the small lies they tell to protect their standing. Violence is minimal and nothing is graphic; the intensity comes from social humiliation, anxiety and the threat of exposure. It is for viewers who enjoy satire with a straight face and a sting, and who are happy with a bleak, clever film rather than something soft or consoling.
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