Yes, this is it. Finally, I fulfilled one of the longest-pending wishes on my bucket list. As a very exuberant film buff, it was always my dream to be a part of this lavish celebration of cinema, which is the film festival of this country (the oldest of India and one of the oldest in the world), to be part of the throng of movie maniacs from various cultures and vernaculars.
Finally, this year, after COVID, my dream came true. One has to be really mad to come this far, to Goa, only to enjoy mind-blowing national and international celluloid creations. So I came to Goa, the land of casinos, nightlife, beaches, exuberance, occidental and Portuguese vibes, physically alone, to purely celebrate films.
Drenched in the rain marked the show’s opening at IFFI (International Film Festival of India) Goa with a Spanish film, The King of All The World by Carlos Saura.
This film that opens the 52nd IFFI is a musical drama. Art draws inspiration from life and life gets inspired by art. The director writes a story that resembles his own past with his estranged wife, a renowned choreographer, whom he requests to choreograph the musical conceived by him. She decides to create the dance moves sitting in a wheelchair, like a crippled, what her love life made her mentally.
During rehearsal, the two young protagonists fall for each other. The director of that musical wants to get back in his ex-wife choreographer’s life, but she denies it. Rejection and concurrence, life is the journey in between these two elements. That’s why Carlos Saura never stresses the final performance. He lingers more over the rehearsal scenes, the journey, the build-up.
This film is beautifully crafted with Spanish songs, tango and many Spanish-Mexican dance steps. Those scenes are really enjoyable. But the narrations through dance and music never become repetitive because of vibrant cinematography by none other than the maestro, Vittorio Storaro. He is famous for his colourful vividness. He emblazoned those musical scenes beautifully with dazzling deep tints.
But when it comes to acting, it disappoints. However, it’s quite demanding to expect great acting from dancers.
This film starts and ends with the song El Rey De Todo El Mundo (The King Of All The World). It’s not just a song; it’s life. Give this song an ear; you will love it.