Film Review (Stylus- SIMCinema)

Bardsongs

Directed by: Sander Francken
Starring: Dhamender Singh, Kishan Soni, Kolado Bocoum, Abba Bilancoro, Tsewang Spalgon, Deachen Yangdol

Bardsongs breathes. It breathes a culture in each of the three stories portrayed. Each story is infused with the life that the protagonists have made for themselves. It is a three course banquet, where an exotic array from the embraces of Rajasthan and Ladakh bring characters that the audience can forget are not real.

                              

The film celebrates tradition. It equivocates the importance that was once attached to elders and their advice. In all three tales, the father-figure was a man who was an assuming personality, humble in sharing what they have learnt to their youngsters. The art of a communal form of civilization, be it in family, or in gatherings to share music and stories is also imbibed as the essence throughout the cinematic experience.

Bardsongs are simple stories, depicting the romance of what tends to be forgotten. And it is impossible not to feel.

The narrative in Bardsongs is as of folklore in bygones, where music or songs would tell the tale. Earthy, rustic tunes, deep baritones regale the audience in each unfurling event of the story. The cinematography throughout the film is like watching a reel of paintings. Life in all its vibrant colour, disparity and diversity, joys in unexpected ventures and disappointment when you don’t expect it. How we perceive colors our decisions, which in turn guide the course our life would take.

Often we tend to downplay the importance of something small, simple, like a smile on a bad day, or appreciation from a stranger. Bardsongs acquaints us once again to that simplicity. To hold on and savour it for the hours of the film.  

Alisha D'Souza
SIMC
MMC (2012)