It's decidedly beautiful to look at but there's a vital spark of life missing from Umrao Jaan. In some ways the absence serves to heighten the aura of melancholy that surrounds the courtesan as she narrates the story of how she lived her life and earned her name, but any positive assumptions in that direction are outweighed by lingering misgivings that whisper 'it's not as good as it could've been.' Nevertheless, I did love the symbolism behind her placement for the telling, the poetic structure, the finery and the double-edged aspect of the sheltered brothel lifestyle.
3 blessed breaths out of 5
No comments:
Post a Comment