Viewed at Kerala IFF December 2017. Teen aur Aadhya" (Three and a Half) written and directed by Daria Gai a Ukrainian resident of India for several years, and produced by Anurag Kashyap, aroused lively curiosity and discussions throughout the festival week. This is a story in three parts set in the same house at different times years apart. The half in question is the house itself which "observes" each little drama taking place within its confines. The first tale is about a young boy and his bedridden grandfather who stages his own death in a most peculiar manner on leap year day. In tale number two the house has become a brothel with a young prostitute who tries to convince her clients that each time is her first time changing her name on each turn. Her main client is impotent except under certain conditions but keeps giving her money. In part three we meet an elderly couple, who may or may not be people we have encountered earlier. They lie around in bed touching and kissing tenderly while arguing and musing over their long gone sex drive and former passions. submit What makes the film work in a special manner is the fact that each story is shot in a single take with no cuts as the action sweeps around the motionless walls. Various people relate to the three stories in various ways which is precisely what makes it so interesting. I liked them all but liked part three best. Judy Gladstone, a festival delegate from Canada and an astute film observer from Canada, remarked that this experimental debut feature is the work of a true talent. "The the next film by director Dargai will be a masterpiece". I tend to agree.
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