What I Watched – April 2025

Sector 36: Watched it with my cousins during my trip to Palakkad. Massey, with his baby face, was a wrong choice to play this real-life monster.

Alaipayuthe: When I returned, Sruthi was midway through this with the kids. The pulsing energy of this movie still makes it as refreshing as it was when it came out a quarter century ago.

Die Welle: German movie about a political science teacher’s practical project on fascism taking a sinister turn. Though highly regarded in Germany, it didn’t impress me. But the movie was a nice reminder of how authority, conformism and ‘order’ can give meaning to many, leading to overall misery.

Warfare: Real battles are probably fought like this – in silence, with fear and boredom as the overarching emotion. Based on a real 2006 mission in Ramadi, Iraq, Alex Garland’s movie will become a cult in times to come. Watched it on the big screen.

Chhaava – The usual Bollywood propaganda fare. The narrative had the expected tale of how united Hindustan was once upon a time until the advent of the you-know-who and how it went all downhill. The plunder of Burhanpur by the Marathas was an event that I read up about. And of course, Sambhaji’s brutal torture in the end was also historically accurate.

Oh Canada – Paul Schrader’s work was disappointing. Gere, playing the role of a dying filmmaker narrating his past on camera, in front of his wife, and opening up about the lies and deceit that made him what he is, was underutilized.

Test – Though it ended in a lame manner, the plot was interesting enough to watch.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy & Smiley’s People – As I wrote a couple of days back, I’ve been consuming le Carre’s works for the most of April and ended up watching Alec Guinness essay the role of a lifetime as George Smiley in these two novel adaptations.

Young Sheldon – One episode a day is what I’ve negotiated with the kids. It’s been fun so far.

Deutschland 83 – The first season of this German drama, was another tale of the madness that the Cold War was for divided Germany. Yet to finish the season…

2025: January | February | March