Women's liberation in cinema was a fraud until now. Grave women and particularly graver men who called themselves 'womanist' and 'feminist' used the lie of seriousness to tell vacuous tales of insipid risings. Then Quentin Tarantino made his fourth film. If only one knew feminine emancipation and retribution could have such a compelling narration, may many such tales be told. This delightfully violent movie has to be seen, but if companionship is essential in the theatre at all, avoid the polluting influence of soft lady-like beings.
This is the story of Black Mamba played by Uma Thurman whose wedding guests are massacred in a church, possibly because, as a cop at the scene of crime jokingly says, "someone took that bit about 'or forever hold your piece', too seriously". The pregnant bride (it's an American film) is shot in her head by the father of her child, a shadowy man called Bill. She rises from a comatose state in a hospital to seek revenge, and while on that job in Tokyo, she once tells a whole lot of dead and dismembered fiends, "Take your lives with you. Leave the limbs you have lost". It's that kind of a film. And a bit more. There is Tarantino's curious story-telling and cruel wit that pits the urge to chuckle against compassion. It's usually said by elegant analysts that Tarantino's dialogues, though a parody of popular culture, are unforgivably collegiate. If that's true, may the man never grow up into an elegant bore. His deep appreciation for westerns, animation, martial arts and Samurai films have greatly influenced the making of Kill Bill Vol.1. The sequel is due in May next year.
In a pleasant bout of maturity, the Indian censors have made very few audio and visual cuts. The film would have been banned in India ten years ago, when the custodians were in the Stone Age. But it's a pity that it won't be released in Hindi as say, Bill Ko Maro. Those audiences would have loved the film's high-quality action. Meanwhile, there is fear that Sanjay Gupta might be smacking his lips at the possibility of remaking this one too like he did with Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.
For those who search for life's higher lessons in movies, there is none in Kill Bill, though there is a slice of simple wisdom in Tarantino's craft—if you must do anything at all, do it your way.
US Top 5
1. The Last Samurai
2. Honey
3. The Haunted Mansion
4. Elf
5. The Cat in the Hat
INDIAN Top 5
1. Kal Ho Naa Ho
2. Janasheen
3. Baghban
4. Koi Mil Gaya
5. Tehzeeb
Courtesy: Film Information
