Cinema Society

AMAL

Average
Rating

4.5

Tuesday, October 21, 2008, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

Invited Guest: Richie Mehta, Rupinder Nagra

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21

7:00PM: Cinema Chat with Andy, Auditorium 4

7:10PM: Introduction, Auditorium 4

7:10PM: Introduction, Auditorium 5

7:30PM: AMAL, Auditoriums 4 & 5

Discussion will follow screening in Auditorium 4

AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

AMAL

Auto rickshaw driver AMAL is content with the small but vital role he serves - driving customers around New Delhi as quickly and safely as possible. But his sense of duty is tested by an eccentric, aging billionaire, who, moved by Amal's humility, bequeaths him his entire estate before passing away. With only one month to discover and claim the inheritance, Amal's struggles with duty and wealth are threatened by all those around him - from a young injured beggar girl and a lovely store merchant, to the danger of the old man's upper-caste friends and siblings, all seeking to claim their share of the riches.

Starring Rupinder Nagra as Amal, AMAL is directed for the screen by Richie Mehta.

PLEASE NOTE: AMAL is in Hindi with English Subtitles

Running Time: 101 Minutes

Rated PG

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24-Oct-08: M.Roe - Rating: 5

What a phenomenal movie (and evening), I really thought this was going to be a lighter more whimsical film and I am so happy that I was wrong. I even brought a friend with me for the viewing and she could barely contain herself during the Q & A (unfortunately she didn't get chance to speak her piece due to the volume of hands...a good thing though, right?...and she and I really loved the film).

As wonderful an experience this movie and evening were and after all the recent films we have seen, I find it more frustrating then ever that we are seeing such high quality films on such low budgets but that "Hollywood" continues to throw away so much money on movies (especially since they are mostly bad) but with some creativity and gumption (and giving people like Ritchie & Shaun Mehta and Fay Ann Lee more opportunities in the limelight) that one, there would be less obscene amounts of money being wasted and two, we would get better and more rewarding films to watch........Not one to like to talk "politics" I refer to the line in "Wall Street" uttered by be Gordon Gekko "...greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of it's forms - greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind....." as the thought process of the powers that be as the main contributor for the downfall in our economy and current state of affairs.

Now back to the movie....

I have to admit I began to follow down the path of the "western" way of thinking...I thought for sure that the little girl was going to live and Amal and Pooja would get married and adopt the little girl, get the millions of dollars left from G.K. Jayaram and live happily ever after. After the few minutes of anxiety of realizing that he was not going to get the money I did accept this as how it was suppose to be, not because that was Amal's "place in life" (ignorant, servant, illiterate etc.) but rather he understood what it is to be content and happy, that food, shelter and love is all that one really needs in life to live but that you need to accept that as truth to be alive.

23-Oct-08: smm - Rating: 4

My favorite movie of the season so far and a huge relief! I enjoyed the movie very much and especially the discussion afterwards about whether or not this was a happy ending. I thought the casting was perfect, and I loved the combination of English and Hindi. Very enjoyable, keep 'em coming!

22-Oct-08: Andy Feldman - Rating: 5

Last year it was Outsourced and this year it's Amal. Sensational choices for me. Keep em coming.

22-Oct-08: Jeri F - Rating: 5

Great film, cinematography, acting, editing. Really transported you to India. Loved that it was so authentic and had such wonderful characters. The ending was perfect, and really illuminated how Amal found joy in a simple, honest existence filled with empathy for his fellow man. I felt that there was no need to wrap it up in a neat little bow according to western mores, and that this would not have been true to the spirit of the film. Once you realized that he was not going to get the money you opened your mind to consider that THIS was the happy ending.

22-Oct-08: PB - Rating: 4

I would give it a 5 except that it was a bit slow in the middle.

Otherwise......very, very good....I loved when Amal was presented with the carburetor and the explaination was that it was from her dowry savings. What a wonderful moment. Amal and his mother were the real winners. At that moment they experienced true happiness and realized that their dreams were coming true. A perfect film for the times we live in.

Thanks for a great film.

22-Oct-08: Jim Y - Rating: 4

I really liked this film. What a great life lesson. Not at all the kind of happy ending that you'd get in a Hollywood film. Maybe there are things in life that can bring you joy without money, something to think about in times like these.

Looks like the non-existant 0 rating by "22-Sep-08: mike JACKson - Rating:" is bringing the average down for this film, can someone fix that?

22-Oct-08: jh - Rating: 5

What to make of Amal? It's easier to figure out Amal the person than "Amal" the film. Amal is a kind and good person, the kind of person to whom "what goes around, comes around". "Amal" the film is more difficult to figure out. Did what "went around, come around"? You think, no, but then you think, maybe, and ultimately, yes. Life may not be fair in monetary terms, but it may be fair in other terms. I figure "Amal" is a fine fable and a well-made film.

22-Oct-08: EBee - Rating: 4

What an interesting twist on a classic Cinderella story. The scene where it's revealed that Amal has been driving Sapna's son was a great moment. Much discussion as to whether or not this is a happy ending... thanks Andy!