‘My Melbourne’ movie review: ‘Setara’ shines in this otherwise insipid multigrain recipe-OxBig News Network

A still from ‘My Melbourne’.
| Photo Credit: Mind Blowing Films/YouTube

Celebrating the cultural ethos of a city through an anthology is not a new cinematic concept. Over the years, we have watched films etching the spirit of Paris, Tokyo, and Mumbai on celluloid. This week, we have some distinguished names from the Indian film industry collaborating with Australian talent to mark the cultural diversity of Melbourne.

Known for their distinct idiom, Onir, Imtiaz Ali, Rima Das, and Kabir Khan map the themes of sexuality, disability, gender, and race, gently emphasising the inclusive nature of the city. Based on real-life stories, the protagonists’ truth touches the emotional buttons without necessarily triggering a wave of reaction. Perhaps the format limits the creative souls from taking leaps of faith and deepening the conflict as in the short form, sometimes the goal becomes more important than the means. The denouement starts knocking at the door before the journey is fully realised.

In Nandini, Onir maps the emotional reunion of a father and his son in Melbourne. Mourning the loss of Nandini, the connecting link between the two, Mihir (Mouli Ganguly) struggles with the sexuality of his son Indraneel (Arka Das). And the latter finds it hard to adjust to the worldview of his father. The short film seeks to normalise homosexuality for an audience that accepts diversity in sexual orientation but doesn’t necessarily respect it. As the father and son indulge in a conversation, it opens up an interesting investigation of mind and heart but Onir doesn’t have the actors and the time to dig deep.

In Jules, Imtiaz and Arif Ali explore how the state of homelessness and want has no boundaries through an encounter between Sakshi (Arushi Sharma), a newlywed Indian girl working in a restaurant, and Jules (Kat Stewart), a homeless Australian woman who resides on a pavement. Struggling to come to terms with displacement and an insensitive husband, Sakshi forges an unlikely bond with Jules. Led by Arushi’s arresting performance, the short film scythes through the prejudices that we hold about foreign cultures to underline the bonds of humanity, but the Ali brothers’ bold brush strokes dull the impact.

Emma is a lyrical tale of self-acceptance and discovery. Debilitated by the gradual loss of hearing power and discrimination on the dance floor, Emma (Ryanna Skye Lawson), a talented performer, loses confidence in herself before Nathan (Nathan Borg), a successful deaf dancer, inspires her. In her characteristic style, Rima keeps the canvas minimalistic yet evocative, but somehow, one could not step into Emma’s core.

Style and substance come together in Kabir Khan’s yet another dramatic documentation of a sportsperson’s struggle. Setara tells the inspirational tale of Setara Amiri, a 15-year-old Afghan cricketer who relocates to Melbourne with her mother and sister after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Kabir tackles questions of identity and fears of discrimination and ridicule that refugees face.

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Cricket was Setara’s life in her home country, but in Melbourne, her mother doesn’t want her to be seen on a playground. Some of her peers feel that Setara is enjoying the perks of the government’s diversity programme. Can Setara hold her head high and keep it covered at the same time? Ably supported by former Australian cricketer Brad Hodge, Setara’s natural performance is as impactful as her rhythmic bowling action. In a short time frame, Kabir addresses the questions about dogma and developing a sense of belonging in a new country in a nuanced fashion.

My Melbourne is currently running in theatres