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‘Kalki 2898 AD’: A Cinematic Triumph Blending Mythology and Sci-Fi

Amitabh Bachchan mesmerises as Ashwatthama, his restrained yet powerful performance adding gravitas to pivotal scenes. This is one of the best roles we have seen him in recently…reports Asian Lite News

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ directed by Nag Ashwin is a mesmerising journey into a dystopian future where mythology and technology collide.

Set against the backdrop of the last city on Earth, Kashi, in the year 2898 AD, the film boasts of a stellar ensemble cast led by Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani. It promises a cinematic experience that blends epic action, profound mythology, and intricate character dynamics.

Prabhas delivers a tour de force performance, embodying the charismatic Bhairava with a surprising twist pivotal to the plot. His portrayal balances humour, intensity, and vulnerability, anchoring the film with his dynamic presence.

Amitabh Bachchan mesmerises as Ashwatthama, his restrained yet powerful performance adding gravitas to pivotal scenes. This is one of the best roles we have seen him in recently.

Deepika Padukone delivers a power-packed performance, infusing Sumathi with depth and resilience. Kamal Haasan commands the screen as the Supreme Yaskin, portraying the antagonist with chilling charisma.

Nag Ashwin’s direction is visionary, seamlessly blending sci-fi elements with mythological undertones from the Mahabharata. He masterfully crafts the narrative as it unfolds in layers, keeping viewers engaged with its intricate twists and emotional depth.

Kashi’s dystopian world is brought to life by Djordje Stojiljkovic’s breathtaking cinematography, capturing both the grandeur and grit of the cityscape.

The film’s production values overseen by Vyjayanthi Movies are top-notch, evident in the detailed art direction, impressive VFX, and intricate costume designs that enhance the immersive experience.

Santhosh Narayanan’s background score complements the narrative’s emotional beats and action sequences, though some songs may require repeated listening to resonate fully.

Kota Venkateswara Rao’s editing, while generally effective, could benefit from tighter pacing in the film’s first half to maintain momentum.

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ delves into such profound themes as identity, destiny, and the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific advances.

The film skilfully navigates between its high-octane action sequences and introspective character moments, culminating in a climactic showdown that leaves a lasting impact. The integration of mythological elements enriches the narrative, offering viewers a thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s future.

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ stands as a testament to pan-Indian ambition and creativity, pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema with its bold storytelling and compelling performances.

The film’s first half may seem a bit slow, but the payoff in the second half is worth the wait, delivering thrilling action sequences and poignant character arcs. Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, and Deepika Padukone deliver standout performances, supported by a talented ensemble cast.

Nag Ashwin’s vision and direction elevate the film, making it a must-watch for fans of epic sci-fi adventures.

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is a cinematic triumph that captivates with visuals, resonates with its themes, and leaves audiences eagerly anticipating future instalments. It is a journey that proves both exhilarating and thought-provoking, cementing its place as a milestone in Indian cinema.

Film: Kalki 2898 AD (Playing in theatres)

Duration: 180.56 minutes

Director: Nag Ashwin Star

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, Rajendra Prasad, Saswata Chatterjee, Brahmanandam, Anna Ben, Shobana, Mrunal Thakur, Dulquer Salmaan, and Vijay Deverakonda

Rating: ****

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Exciting New Releases on Streaming Platforms This Week

The upcoming week on streaming platforms brings exciting new seasons of fan-favourite series like ‘Panchayat 3’, ‘Illegal 3’, to the Randeep Hooda-starrer film ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. Here is a list of five titles that have caught the attention this week:

‘Rathnam’:

The Tamil action film directed by Hari stars Vishal in the lead role. It also features Priya Bhavani Shankar, Samuthirakani, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Yogi Babu, Murali Sharma, Hareesh Peradi, Mohan Raman, and Vijayakumar.

The movie is streaming now on Prime Video.

‘Atlas’:

The American science fiction action thriller film is directed by Brad Peyton and written by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite.

Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it.

It also features Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Strong. The film will be released on May 24 on Netflix.

‘Panchayat 3’:

Created by The Viral Fever, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, and written by Chandan Kumar, the show features Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and Sanvikaa.

The trailer shows the newly transferred Panchayat secretary making his way to the fictional village of Phulera. The tension, triggered by the trouble-causing character of ‘Banrakas’, starts mounting as the Panchayat elections approach, with the impending danger of the current ‘Pradhan Pati’ being dethroned.

‘Panchayat 3’ will stream from May 28 on Prime Video.

‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’:

The movie, based on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, is directed and co-produced by Randeep Hooda.

Randeep plays the titular role of Savarkar, and the movie presents a biographical sketch of Savarkar from his childhood, including the key events from his life. It also stars Ankita Lokhande. It will be streaming on Zee5 from May 28.

‘Illegal 3’:

The legal thriller web series stars Neha Sharma, Piyush Mishra, Akshay Oberoi, Neil Bhoopalam, and Satyadeep Mishra in the lead roles. The web series delves deep into the lives of advocates as they tackle challenging cases, often blurring the line between legal and illegal.

Directed by Sahir Raza, ‘Illegal 3’ will air on JioCinema from May 29.

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‘Let Cinema and Critiques Have Their Own Journey’

A film’s success is not based on reviews and the best is allow the reviews and the cinema go their own way,” said Mammootty…reports Asian Lite News

A films’ success is not based on reviews and hence, the best bet is allow the two aspects go their own way, superstar Mammootty said here on Monday.

He was reacting to the present impasse in the film industry over reviewing of Malayalam films.

“A film’s success is not based on reviews and the best is allow the reviews and the cinema go their own way,” said Mammootty.

The superstar was interacting with the media ahead of the release of his upcoming film ‘Kaathal’.

“The film-goers watch a film of their choice without being influenced,” he said, adding that film “review” is different from “roasting”.

His statement comes a few weeks after the Kerala High Court directed the state police chief to have a closer look at the vested interests playing truant especially in the social media when new films are released and the Ernakulam Central Police last month registered the first case on this and charged nine persons.

Those charged include social media giants Face book, You Tube and seven others and the police has begun its probe into this.

The Ernakulam Central Police registered the FIR based on a complaint by film director Ubaini Ebrahim after he found that the social media was flooded with negative reviews of his recently released Malayalam film ‘Rahel Makan Kora’.

Incidentally, the High Court in October acting on a petition filed by Mubeen Rauf, the director of the film ‘Aromalinte Adyathe Pranayam’ said that he believed his film got a negative impact due to the alleged foul play by vloggers and sought action.

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‘Cuttputlli’ gives you theatrical experience at home

A thriller is as good as its actors, working on little nuances, quick emotions and palpable fear; creating well-defined and detailed, yet conflicted characters, something we haven’t seen very often in Indian Cinema…reports Asian Lite News

Director: Ranjit M Tewari. Cast: Akshay Kumar, Rakul Preet Singh, Sargun Mehta, Chandrachur Singh and Hrishita Bhatt. (Rating: ****)

The quiet, beautiful, exotic and lush green valley of Kasauli is struck by gruesome and mysterious murders.

An investigating cop with his prior knowledge of serial killers finds himself unveiling clues and chasing someone who doesn’t have a face, name, motive and whereabouts. ‘Cuttputlli’ is perhaps one of the most gritty, intense and dramatically captured whodunnit thrillers of recent vintage. It keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout.

Pooja Entertainment’s new-age thriller is helmed by Ranjt Tiwari and features Akshay Kumar, Rakul Preet Singh, Sargun Mehta and Chandrachur Singh in lead roles.

Pooja Entertainment has poured resources into creating a world which is so believable and real. The amount of work that has gone into creating detailed sets, characters and locations is impressive. ‘Cuttputlli’ is a classic example of vision, production, content and performance coming together to create one epic spectacle.

The director has not deviated from his brief and created this thrilling emotional ride, where you don’t want to miss a beat. The film is an adaptation of a South Indian cult classic, but the Hindi adaptation could very well be called a standalone noir-thriller, which is a rarity.

A thriller is as good as its actors, working on little nuances, quick emotions and palpable fear; creating well-defined and detailed, yet conflicted characters, something we haven’t seen very often in Indian Cinema.

Akshay Kumar, a mass star, takes a leap of faith and plays this multi-layered character, which could very well be his finest performance. He keeps shifting gears between being a cop and being human — his character smartly unplugs clues and tracks details to identify the serial killer.

Rakul Preet Singh is just as amazing and navigates her way with subtle emotions and a fine performance. Television star Sargun Mehta is a revelation; she just hits the ball out of the park without any effort. Chandrachur Singh is an established and seasoned actor, the kind of ease he shows on screen is superlative.

The characters played by Hrishita Bhatt and Gurpreet Ghuggi also add to the richness of the narrative.

The background music and the songs of the film keep the emotion quotient intact, and the pace is maintained. Mounting tension is a requirement of this genre and the composers have done exactly that.

This movie delivers a theatrical experience to your home. This is a well-made, well-crafted cinematic experience with outstanding performances. A highly recommended weekend watch!

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‘Viruman’ an entertainer that wins your heart

Muthaiah is an expert when it comes to making such family dramas that have adequate portions of romance, action, comedy and drama and he has just proved that once again with ‘Viruman’…reviewed by Manigandan R

Viruman. Duration: 151 minutes (Releasing in Theatres), Director: M. Muthaiah. Cast: Karthi, Aditi Shankar, Raj Kiran, Prakash Raj, Saranya Ponvannan, Karunas, Soori, Vadivukkarasi and R.K, Suresh. (Rating: ***1/2)

Director Muthaiah, who is known for making wholesome commercial entertainers, is back with another such entertainer in ‘Viruman’.

Like most of his previous films, the story of this film too has a rural backdrop and tries to showcase the strength of relationships in a family.

The film begins with a young boy chasing his dad with a dagger in hand to kill him. Eventually, we learn that the boy, Viruman ( Karthi), is the fourth son of Muniyandi (Prakash Raj), a Tahsildar by profession.

A young Viruman tells in court that he wishes to stay with his uncle (Raj Kiran) rather than with his father after the death of his mother. The court grants his desire and young Viruman grows up in his uncle’s place while his three brothers grow up at his father’s place.

As the story progresses, we learn that Viruman has built a memorial for his mother at the place where she committed suicide and is on a mission to make his father and his brothers pay their respects to her there. Why she committed suicide and how Viruman reforms his father and brothers is what the film is all about.

Director Muthaiah, who highlighted the beauty of a good father-in-law, son-in-law relationship in ‘Komban’, now tries to showcase the bond between a powerful but selfish father and a rebellious but good son who attempts to reform his dad who believes that money matters more than relationships.

Muthaiah is an expert when it comes to making such family dramas that have adequate portions of romance, action, comedy and drama and he has just proved that once again with ‘Viruman’.

The film is engaging from scene one and does not disappoint you right till the very end. Apart from a good plot, the film also has a brilliant cast that breathes life into the story.

Karthi as Viruman is just perfect. Fearless and arrogant on the one hand and deeply loyal and affectionate on the other, Karthi plays the part with flourish. The manner in which he celebrates a thug slapping his dad in public and how he chooses to reward the thug with a golden ring is just hilarious.

Actress Aditi Shankar, the daughter of ace director Shankar who makes her debut with this film, is just a natural when it comes to acting. She looks very convincing as the character ‘Thaen’ and is absolutely at ease in front of the camera. She does a neat job of playing a hard-working, no-nonsense girl who believes in standing up for her rights.

Raj Kiran, one of the veterans who has delivered several commendable roles before, comes up with yet another powerful performance in this film. As Karthi’s uncle, Raj Kiran delivers not just a mature but a majestic performance.

Prakash Raj, who plays Karthi’s dad, as always comes up with a clean and memorable performance.

The film’s background score by Yuvan Shankar Raja deserves special mention. Especially, the BGM when Karthi is introduced is just peppy and accentuates the mood of the scene. Throughout the film, Yuvan’s music plays a crucial part in amplifying the mood.

Selvakumar’s visuals in the film are a mixed bag. While some visuals are striking and neat, some others, especially those right at the beginning, seem dull and devoid of adequate lighting.

All said and done, Muthaiah’s ‘Viruman’ is an entertainer that wins your heart!

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O2, a nicely made, engaging thriller

G.S. Viknesh Cast: Nayanthara, Rithvik (child artiste), Bharath Neelakandan, RNR Manohar, Jaffer Idukki and Aadukalam Murugadoss. (Rating: ***1/2), ON DISNEY+ HOTSTAR. DURATION: 125 MINUTES

The film has some fantastic performances to offer. Interestingly, the best performance does not come from Nayanthara but from child artiste Rithvik, who does a stellar job of playing Veera…reviewed by Manigandan K.R.
Director Viknesh’s ‘O2 (Oxygen)’ is a nicely made, engaging thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story starts off in an unassuming fashion but soon turns into an intense thriller, thanks to a well-thought-out plot.

Parvathy (Nayanthara) is a single mother whose life revolves around her eight-year-old son Veera (played by child artiste Rithvik), who suffers from a chronic lung disorder. As a result, the child cannot survive without an oxygen cylinder.

Parvathy gets to know that a surgery could help her child recover from the disorder and lead a normal life. So, she chooses to take Veera to a hospital in Kochi, where such a surgery has been arranged for him.

Mother and son board a private bus to Kochi. The other passengers in the bus include a politician who is out of power and his assistant, a father who is disillusioned with his daughter as she is in love with a young man from another community, the girl’s lover who is a student of medicine, a convict who has just been released from prison and a corrupt policeman who is off to Kochi for an illegal deal that is bound to make him super rich.

The bus sets off on a stormy night to Kerala. What happens during the journey is what ‘O2’ is all about.

The film has some fantastic performances to offer. Interestingly, the best performance does not come from Nayanthara but from child artiste Rithvik, who does a stellar job of playing Veera.

Joyful when he is with his mother, scared when she becomes unconscious, brave when he offers to step up for a task that could make the lives of the other passengers so much better, cute when he does an altruistic deed to save people, Rithvik is just adorable and steals your heart.

‘Aadukalam’ Murugadoss, who plays the God-fearing, conscientious driver, is a delight to watch as well. His performance in the scene in which he chooses to stick to doing what is right, disregarding life-saving benefits that some people have to offer, is just brilliant.

Nayanthara, who plays Parvathy, comes up with a neat performance. Equally good is RNR Manohar, who plays the politician no longer in power.

Bharath Neelakandan as the police officer Karunai Rajan looks truly menacing. He looks the part and is able to induce an element of fear in the hearts of audiences with absolute ease. Bharath’s impressive acting skills combined with Vishal Chandrashekar’s apt background score enable director Viknesh to strike terror in the hearts of audiences.

Tamizh Azhagan’s aerial shots are a treat to watch.

On the flip side, the film has a climax that is not very convincing and that comes across as a big letdown. Otherwise, ‘O2’ is a neat family entertainer that is definitely worth a watch.

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‘Kuttavum Shikshayum’: A clean watch realistic exploration of psyche

(Malayalam; released in theatres). Duration: 138 minutes.
Director: Rajeev Ravi. Cast: Asif Ali, Alencier Lopez, Sunny Wein, Sharaf U Dheen and Senthil Krishna (Rating: ***1/2)

The Malayalam movie ‘Kuttavum Shikshyum’, directed by noted filmmaker Rajeev Ravi, explores the psyche of cops working on a criminal investigation. The script by police officer Sibi Thomas and Sreejith Divakaran stands out as it is drawn out from the professional experience of Thomas, who is with the Kerala Police, and is now posted as Circle Inspector at the Adhur police station in Kasaragod.

The movie is based on a real incident that happened in 2015 and begins with a theft in a jewellery shop at Kattappana, Idukki district. Circle Inspector Sajan Philip (Asif Ali) is given charge of the case and he forms a five-member team of police officers played by Alancier Lopez, Sharaf U Dheen, Sunny Wein and Senthil Krishna.

The police team, after closely observing CCTV footage and other material, reach the conclusion that the crime was committed by a four-member gang from Uttar Pradesh. The members of the gang were migrant workers in Kerala.

The police team led by Philip reaches a village on the outskirts of the UP-Haryana border. It gets the assistance of the local police to arrest the criminals, who are from a village in UP with a history of violence against the police.

The director and his team were successful in capturing the underdeveloped villages and the UP landscape.

The movie shows the risks involved in the investigation of the case and in the climax scene, the audience will feel positively for the policemen who risk their lives to solve a case. The patience, adaptation, diplomacy and balance of the police team are portrayed well in the movie with Asif Ali bringing out a brilliant performance as CI Sajan Philip, the head of the investigation team.

The movie, though, is slow and at times even though each actor plays his part beautifully, the chemistry between them seems to be waning at times. Also, the high expectations from a Rajeev Ravi movie invariably leads to a feeling of being let down. It could be because of the intricacies of the investigation and the movie not having many action sequences.

Rajeev Ravi has done justice to the movie even though he may not have risen to the expectations of audiences, who expect a repeat of his earlier movies, such as ‘Kammatti Padam’, all the time.

Cinematographer Suresh Rajan did a brilliant job behind the camera and Sreejith Divakaran has produced a beautiful script with a professional touch. A journalist-turned-scriptwriter, Sreejith has been able to translate the real-life experiences of a policeman onto the screen without anything being lost in translation.

It may be at times slow paced, but the film manages to hold your attention and is a clean watch.

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Heart-wrenching and insightful ‘Flee’

The narrative not only delves into the first-hand experiences of Amin but also explores how the media treats refugees, doing nothing except broadcast their struggles for the world to watch…reviewed by Troy Rebeiro

 (Streaming on ZEE5), Duration: 85 minutes, Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen; Voice Cast: Riz Ahme (Rating: ****)

‘Flee’ is a true and heart-wrenching story that gives an insight into the life of Amin Nawabi, an academic refugee in Denmark.

Narrated in a non-linear manner the documentary tells us how in the mid-1980s, as a minor, Amin escaped from war-torn Afghanistan to Russia and then, after a few attempts to Europe, ultimately succeeded in settling in Denmark.

His journey details his extraordinary tale of endurance as a child refugee forced to flee violent conflict. It also encapsulates how, now on the cusp of marriage, he must confront his internal struggles as he tries to find his place in the world and his journey to a new life. He tells us how his hidden past threatened to ruin the life he created and why his family is very- important to him.

Using a mixture of archival footage and animation- this documentary has- all the tropes of a human-interest story: From personal details of having to mature way too fast while also having to come to terms with his sexuality in a culture that is not supportive, to the general scenario of corruption in Russia, to human trafficking and inhumane conditions the refugees are forced to suffer for a chance of a better life, the film does not skimp on the intense details of Amin’s journey.

The narrative not only delves into the first-hand experiences of Amin but also explores how the media treats refugees, doing nothing except broadcast their struggles for the world to watch. Thus, it gives those who may not be familiar with the issues and struggles that surround refugees a chance to see just how difficult it can be in order to be safe. It paints a portrait of life many of us will never experience.

Keeping with the subject the visuals boast of a sober palette of earthy colours. The 2 D animation is simple yet effective. The few archival images break the monotony of the computer-generated images as they seamlessly integrate into the telling.

Using a moderate tone, Riz Ahmed, the British actor and rapper of Pakistani origin lends his voice to the English version of this film. It elevates the sensitivity and genuineness of the subject.

Overall, with its unique presentation, this docudrama is powerfully evocative and is worth a watch.

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‘Jersey’: The journey of a cricketer

Mrunal Thakur, as his wife Vidya, delivers her part effectively. The music complements the film but does not really stand out enough, to leave an impact…reviewed by Troy Rebeiro

(Running in theatres), Duration: 176 minutes, Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri, Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Mrunal Thakur, Pankaj Kapur, Ronit Kamra, Rudrashish Majumder, Geetika Mehandru, Anjum Batra, Shishir Sharma (Rating: ***1/2)



Gowtam Tinnauri’s ‘Jersey’, a remake of a popular Telugu film by the same name, is about the struggle of Arjun Talwar, a gifted cricketer from Chandigarh, Punjab. It is his journey from being a successful batsman who throws in the towel and how, a demand from his son, who hero-worships him, for the Indian jersey on his birthday, which he is unable to fulfil, makes him bounce into the cricket field, at the age of 36 with grit and determination, and earn one for his son, forms the crux of this narrative.

The film is tediously long and delves too much into the intricacies of the cricket matches, although shot beautifully. One is almost transported to the cricket stadium, sometimes needlessly. The thrill and nail-biting excitement of a match are offered in abundance but not necessarily compulsory, as they do not propel the story forward.

The story is narrated in a compelling manner, enough to keep you engaged. Yet, the first half encapsulating his life, romance, and entry as well as exit from cricket, narrated in a non-linear manner feels unduly long.

The film belongs to Shahid Kapoor, who delivers an outstanding performance as the frustrated and helpless Arjun Talwar, who has been written off by everybody. Shahid essays the character with the requisite maturity and restraint, exhibiting his emotions with subtlety, suppressing the raging volcano within.

Pankaj Kapur as Arjun’s coach, mentor, and well-wisher, who believes in his talent, delivers a realistic portrayal, as does the little Kittu (Ronit Kamra), who is expressive and plays Arjun’s son. He is a natural, and the father-son bond is heart-warming.

Mrunal Thakur, as his wife Vidya, delivers her part effectively. The music complements the film but does not really stand out enough, to leave an impact.

The film is beautifully shot by Anil Mehta, and his lens captures every trace of emotion on Shahid Kapoor’s distraught face with ease, as well as the finer nuances of the cricket matches, making them look larger than life.

The film lacks drama, and except for an unexpected twist at the end it lacks the intrigue factor. There are poignant moments aplenty that tug at your heartstrings and make you empathize with Arjun, but high-octane drama and gripping moments, the plot is devoid of, making the graph of the film appear to be meandering on an even keel.

Director Gowtam Tinnanuri extracts natural performances from each actor and handles the subject astutely but lays undue emphasis on the cricket matches. With a runtime of 174 minutes, the narrative tests your patience, but you hold on.

Overall, ‘Jersey’ is a poignant journey that touches your heart, irrespective of whether you are a cricket fan or not.

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‘Polar Bear’ is fascinating

(Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar), Duration: 83 minutes, Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Jeff Wilson, Voice Cast: Catherine Keener (Rating: ***1/2)

This sets the ball rolling. Somewhere mid-film, we are once again reminded of global warming with, “The third summer of my childhood was the warmest.”…reviewed by Troy Rebeiro

‘Polar Bear’ is designed in a truly Disney fashion, it offers surprising doses of tenderness that accompany the word-class wildlife footage. At the very onset, the film begins with an aerial shot of a cub tagging its mother as she swims in the languid waters. This first shot and those that follow are so impressive that you are hooked on the film immediately, and the narrative does not fail you either.

The narrative is about the Polar Bear family, the bond between mothers and cubs, whose relationship lasts between two and a half and three years. During that time, the mother teaches her cubs everything they need to know to survive in the wilderness.

But at its heart, the narrative is about climate change, and you realise this when the protagonist, at the start of the film, tells us, “Home, it is the place where childhood and memory live together, but the home of my childhood is changing. The ice we depend on is melting away, my cub and I are in unchartered waters.”

This sets the ball rolling. Somewhere mid-film, we are once again reminded of global warming with, “The third summer of my childhood was the warmest.”

The voice of two-time Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener elevates the viewing experience as she brings to life the images as if revealing a real-life story of the polar bears. And her tone touches your heart when she reveals in a mournful voice, “Seals need sea ice to breed. Bears need seals to hunt. Ice Bears (Polar Bears) – how are we to survive without ice?”

Thus, we see what life is like for the polar bears in the Arctic region. The film shows us how they grow in the wilderness – swimming hundreds of miles from land, hunting for food, and surviving a solitary life, living this way as a cycle, over and over again.

The directors give us a purely realistic snapshot with sweeping footage and breathtaking imagery of some of the most exotic and hostile corners of the planet. It is a marvel to see the polar bears in live-action footage, which is carefully edited to create a seductively unhurried narrative that is just as manipulative as fiction with all the trappings of any studio picture.

Overall, while kids may find this film engaging, adults may get more restless than usual.

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