Not all true stories make for interesting cinema and that is reiterated once again in this week's release 'Bow Barracks Forever'.
Bow Barracks Forever
Direction: Anjan Dutt
Cast: Victor Banerjee, Moon Moon Sen, Lillette Dubey
Rating: *
Not all true stories (or true rumours for that matter) make for interesting cinema and that is reiterated once again in this week's release 'Bow Barracks Forever', directed by Anjan Dutt who just a few weeks ago gave us 'The Bong Connection'. Like his earlier film, this too is set in Kolkata and is in English but unlike with 'The Bong Connection', the director did not see the need to subtitle the Bengali sections (maybe he expects only Bengali speaking people to see it).
A motley crowd of Anglo-Indians are living out their dreary lives in an old crumbling building in Kolkata. Their language consists mostly of 'bugger, man, chokra boys, jhamela and bloody' reminding us of the way people in the suburb Bandra speak. A builder is eyeing the property and their only recourse to save their home is to repair the building and get it declared a heritage site.
But this is only the sub plot. The real stories revolve around the residents and their lives, loves and couplings. The trouble is that these are so mundane and repetitive; it just doesn't hold your attention. Even the several songs (Anjan Dutt, Neel Dutt), though good by themselves, are a pain to watch with all the needless inter-cutting. The editor, if any, was not at his best, when working on this film.
The only character that is at all worth watching is that of Lillette Dubey, who plays Emily Lobo, maker of wine and cakes, with subtlety and finesse. Everyone else, notably Victor Banerjee, Neha Dubey and Moon Moon Sen ham like pork was going out of fashion. As for Clayton Rodgers, who makes his debut with this film, he is awful.
Anjan Dutt misfires once again after 'The Bong Connection'. 'Bow Barracks Forever' is one of the most boring, trite films to release this year. And all those love making scenes and shots of men in their undies only makes it more so.
indumirani@gmail.com
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