Chauthi Koot

I have to admit being mesmerized yet perplexed by this film. Maybe it's just a cultural thing, but I found all the characters to be dull, witless, zombies. Both story lines contain long scenes of people just sitting around with vapid expressions on their faces. What's with that? What was the film maker trying to convey?

The two story lines seem to have no meaningful connection. The train ride serves as a kind of lead-in to the rural farm story (which takes places a few months prior). But the drama of the farm family ends on an ambiguous note with no apparent connection to the train ride, (other than the conceit that the story was supposedly being related by one of the passengers). The train ride segment then resumes, inexplicably, and also ends on a meaningless note. I am left scratching my head in confusion.

That said, the visuals in this film are engrossing, and the glimpses into rural Indian life during the 80's are fascinating. I just wish the story(s) made some sense.

The film seems to lack a dramatic structure in favor of mood and visuals. All the same, I enjoyed it and I recommend the experience.