some thoughts on 'the last station'

The last station is a film about Tolstoy's life's last year before he dies. The film traces the difficult relationship of Tolstoy with his wife. Being a woman I feel that it hard to explain what a wife goes through on occasions like this. She was the one who was strong support structure during the most crucial years of his life. She helped him with his writing pursuits.

Her entire youth and a lifetime indeed was dedicated to her husband. We all know that Tolstoy is a world renowned Russian writer who has influenced many. I believe the film was difficult project to accomplish but failed to present the the plight of his wife.

Both Tolstoy and Gandhi have been hailed as Prophet and Mahatma respectively for the their adherence to a simple life. A closer look at their lives will enable us to see a difficult dilemma they faced with their loved ones. Tolstoy with his wife and Gandhi with his son. These public figures pulled the masses and changed life of many people but they failed to light up the the life of the people most close to them.

A sort of similar film entitled "Gandhi, My father", made by an Indian filmmaker also dealt with the strenuous relationship Gandhi shared with his son. In this film also the director tried to give a very balanced picture without being biased to any one side in particular.

Being a film director demands to reveal a story as objectively as possible which is present in both films, "the last station" as well as" Gandhi, my father". But as a viewer my heart goes out for Tolstoy's wife and I feel that the film could have done a little more justice to her character.

Films are films after all !!!

I wonder what is more important fiction or facts when one makes a choice of watching a film. Recently the city of Toronto has got a major event happening that is Hotdocs 2010-a documentary film festival where for more than a week around hundred documentary films were screened. Most of the venues were flocked by people trying their luck through the rush lines just to grab a ticket to watch their favorite documentary film.

Events like these definitely provide us a peep into the lives of people belonging to different parts of the world. Whether it is a story of four babies been brought up in four different parts of world or about Bin Laden's chief bodyguard, it adds to our knowledge of outer world. I think even a mere awareness of these issues is relevant in context of the times we are living in.

For most people films are a source of entertainment and at its best an escape from their stressed out lives. it is indulgence to get lost into the fantasy land. But after sometime this sort of cinema becomes monotonous and extremely predictable. As innovation does not always work so tried and tested formula films are made. Ironman 2 becomes the rage of the day. Believe me, it is perishable but if it makes money then worth it.

As a viewer I think our viewing should not be atypical. Rather it is an assimilation of films of different flavors and fervors.