WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
A journeying to discover who you are–or is it? For all the moments that we might find ourselves pondering that notion, does it actually have to always come down to a questioning OF who we are, or instead simply being confident IN who we are already, regardless of what other labels others might attempt to place upon us? While this may become how we choose to see it, what might occur when those we could share our life with remain unaware of self-truths we’ve hidden? For Sohan (Atif Ally Dagman), it is his moment of revelation, not to himself, but to his soon-to-be bride (Kankana Chakraborty), on their arranged union’s day, before the ceremony that’s about to come to pass. It soon remains to be seen whether this will equal a desired end–or a fresh start.
Next, my Mind:
Can I say it enough?? I mean, really?? In my ongoing love affair with independent cinema, I am sometimes coming across efforts that, at first, might baffle me until I give it another look and then it all makes sense, once more to shine that unveiling light reminding me of exactly why this genre remains my stalwart bastion of originality and fearless artistry. Therefore, when it came to screening this 9-minute short film, which by the way had its North American Premiere as part of the Love, Lost And Found Programming at the 2022 DFW SAFF sponsored by Toyota USA and hosted by Jingo Media Founder/Festival Director Jitin Hingorani and Artistic Director Ambica Dev, what I was to discover was a film that I thought would go in one direction and even be classified within a certain topical realm, but instead went a uniquely unexpected path and actually WASN’T what I thought it would be about at all! Again, THANK YOU, indie film for being YOU!
At first glance and/or attempt to ascertain what we’ve seen, the narrative presented that focuses on one man’s decision to completely upend his wedding day by divulging a rather important facet of his life to his soon to be wife, it would have been extremely easy, and frankly wholeheartedly understood, if one might decide the thematic bend to events is aiming for the LGBTQ arena and a story about choosing to stand up for one’s true identity regardless of the outcome it has on others or the situation at hand, aka here: a man’s wedding day. BUT wait, hold on there dear reader (and ideally viewer of the film), look closer, beyond the surface, and we begin to realize that this isn’t at all about choosing one’s identity, but rather stepping out as who we already ARE, but simply in a way that ends up exposing OTHER realities of our choices and proclivities we find comfort in and the subsequent circumstances that get affected by it, aka here: a man’s wedding day in which he wishes to wear a traditional saree–because he’s a cross-dresser.
Now, I don’t wish to get into any more specific details about the story and how it unfolds in itself beyond this foundational thematic twist, primarily because I don’t believe in spoilers. But, I will state that the project’s exploration of BEING who you already are while showcasing the willingness to just do what feels most comfortable to YOU in spite of what others might believe or think, the story very much ventures into concepts in patriarchy, the perspectives of two people who are ultimately victims of it on multiple levels, the initial, EXISTING conflicts about each other they must confront as it is, and the moments of personal challenge that arise upon one character’s larger disclosure. It all melds together into what, again, doesn’t amount to an LGBTQ agenda being pushed at us or a possible identity crisis angle associated with the same line of reasoning–it’s just a HUMAN story steeped in the impact of cultural traditions and what makes someone want to just have the freedom to BE, even at the cost of a relationship strained and most likely unwanted from the start.
How the film wraps up is so perfectly in line with what we’ve seen to that point, and it lends an additional layer of validity to the messages it means to convey. Dagman does a wonderful job here as Sohan, a man with a secret who’s now made the choice to reveal it at the last moments before he’s meant to be married to a bride who has NO idea what his preferences are for their upcoming nuptials. Yet, as the pair come together for him to share what he must, the palpable tension that’s permeated their every word before and during these interactions might spell a union that was never supposed to be to begin with, and whether they see this newest revelation as further proof of how they’ve perhaps both felt manipulated into it all remains to be seen, with Sohan’s transparency now a catalyst for everything that comes moving forward. It’s a nuanced and, as I adore, understated performance that carries so much emotional volatility throughout the film and it speaks strongly to the narrative’s purpose here.
As such, Chakraborty has dual types of screen time here, via both voice over a phone call and directly seen as well through her role as Sohan’s bride-to-be via arranged marriage, which alone would seem a fact that doesn’t sit well with either party involved, as there’s no true indication they’ve ever ACTUALLY gotten to know ANYTHING about each other, made more evident through their conversations on the line and in person. She remains in a state of general melancholy and disbelief, yet seems at the same time to be somewhat–relieved(??)–that it might represent their first honest, open, even truthful discussion since their pre-planned marriage? It’s a very big study in reading body language and in what this critic might term “observational conjecture”, and how she goes forth from the time of divulgence is decidedly interesting. Chakraborty brings a fine degree of quietly burning intensity to the character that more than befits the atmosphere created, a credit to the actress’ skills to communicate so much through such calm overall demeanor.
So, in total, “Man & Wife” becomes one of the more subtle unanticipated surprises of the 2022 DFW SAFF in the coloring-outside-the-lines, unconventional approach to its story’s intent, allowing us to see what it is to be who we are as it stands, offered in a manner that transcends all the so often pre-determined judgements and almost forcefully ingrained ideas ABOUT identity we are given to accept as gospel. Maybe it’s about time that being open and operating with integrity comes back to the forefront of our relationships as people striving to live together in a world so deeply in need of love, understanding, and better means to see each other as we should–equal and valued.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
