The Goat Life
- 2024
- 2h 53m
An Indian man seeking work follows a job lead to Saudi Arabia, only to find himself forced to labor without pay as a goat herder in the remote desert.An Indian man seeking work follows a job lead to Saudi Arabia, only to find himself forced to labor without pay as a goat herder in the remote desert.An Indian man seeking work follows a job lead to Saudi Arabia, only to find himself forced to labor without pay as a goat herder in the remote desert.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 15 nominations total
Talib Al Balushi
- Kafeel
- (as Talib)
Shobha Mohan
- Ummah (Najib's Mother)
- (as Shoba Mohan)
Nazer Karutheni
- Kunjikka
- (as Naser Karutheni)
Hasan Zaman
- Grass Truck Driver
- (as Haasan)
Summary
Reviewers say 'Aadujeevitham' is acclaimed for its storytelling, visuals, and Prithviraj Sukumaran's performance. It explores human resilience and migrant worker struggles, though some note deviations from the novel. Pacing is divisive, with mixed opinions on its deliberate rhythm. Technical aspects like cinematography and A. R. Rahman's music are praised, despite VFX issues and logical inconsistencies. It's a significant Indian cinema contribution, though it may not fully satisfy novel fans.
Featured reviews
The film is worth watching, but there are many superior survival movies that offer a more rewarding experience for the same three-hour investment. "Society of the Snow" stands as a recent benchmark in the genre, and unfortunately, this film falls short of that.
The narrative suffers from a lack of a compelling theme, with certain segments dragging on unnecessarily. The romantic subplot is particularly weak; it's not only poorly crafted but also fails to contribute meaningfully to the overall story, despite occupying a substantial portion of the first act.
The pivotal elements of the film commence too late, by which time the audience may have already lost interest due to the earlier lackluster content. However, the desert sequences stand out, showcasing commendable performances by the trio of actors portraying the survivors.
The conclusion of the movie is jarringly abrupt, leaving viewers without any insight into the lives of the enigmatic character who joined the trek or the Malayali individual who offered aid.
In summary, the romantic elements are excessively drawn out, the desert scenes are satisfactory, and the ending feels rushed, as if the production was constrained by budget limitations and had to hastily wrap up, akin to the final moments of writing an exam.
The narrative suffers from a lack of a compelling theme, with certain segments dragging on unnecessarily. The romantic subplot is particularly weak; it's not only poorly crafted but also fails to contribute meaningfully to the overall story, despite occupying a substantial portion of the first act.
The pivotal elements of the film commence too late, by which time the audience may have already lost interest due to the earlier lackluster content. However, the desert sequences stand out, showcasing commendable performances by the trio of actors portraying the survivors.
The conclusion of the movie is jarringly abrupt, leaving viewers without any insight into the lives of the enigmatic character who joined the trek or the Malayali individual who offered aid.
In summary, the romantic elements are excessively drawn out, the desert scenes are satisfactory, and the ending feels rushed, as if the production was constrained by budget limitations and had to hastily wrap up, akin to the final moments of writing an exam.
All things considered a neat adaptation of Aadujeevitham. I read the novel around 15 years ago and loved it. I don't remember everything from it but there were some standout moments from the novel that I missed here. Maybe those were the more fictional aspects of the novel and this could be closer to Najeeb's real life, I don't know. But it really felt like that in the first half there was so much focus on certain aspects that could've been shortened with more impact even if they didn't include the parts from the book that I wanted to see since it's already three hours. The initial portions of Prithviraj as the newly arrived immigrant were also not as convincing as I would've liked. But the film fully commits in every department in the second half and makes such a beautiful experience. Prithviraj's transformation and his suffering are portrayed as a person who is very normal and innocent in contrast to the similar character in Mariyan (which took a lot of inspiration from this novel) who was essentially portrayed as a hero. Periyone song was incredible but it was too short and didn't fully give the impact it could've. In fact, a lot of scenes suffer from this because of poor editing. Other than Periyone, most of the music is either too much or just not matching what is going on. Honestly disappointed with the music. Even the ending of the movie felt a little abrupt, especially considering how the flashbacks were set up but it ended without the full payoff.
Even with all the problems I had Aadujeevitham is a solid movie and a neat adaptation of the novel with incredible performances, especially from Prithviraj. As someone who had read the novel, there were a lot of things that were easier to understand and also other things that I was disappointed with. It felt like it would be an entirely different experience for those who haven't read the novel.
Even with all the problems I had Aadujeevitham is a solid movie and a neat adaptation of the novel with incredible performances, especially from Prithviraj. As someone who had read the novel, there were a lot of things that were easier to understand and also other things that I was disappointed with. It felt like it would be an entirely different experience for those who haven't read the novel.
The movie probably went a bit overboard in telling its story. The actor's performance was too much, almost like they were trying too hard, and the film made the characters' problems seem bigger than they really are. I get that sometimes a movie needs to amp up the emotions to make a point, but here, it kept that intense level from start to finish and didn't even wrap up the story well. This made the movie feel like it was just trying to make us feel sorry for the characters, rather than telling a good story.
However, the movie does have a meaningful message at its core, and in some places, the over-the-top acting might have been necessary to get the emotions across. But sticking with that approach all the way through, without giving the story a proper ending, was a mistake that turned the movie into what felt like a long plea for sympathy.
There's one good thing that might come out of this movie, though. It could make people think twice about making reckless decisions, like jumping into something risky without thinking it through. If the exaggerated struggles shown in the movie make viewers more cautious about taking big risks without planning, then at least the movie has done something useful. In a roundabout way, the movie's over-the-top take on its story could end up being a warning to think carefully before diving into something dangerous.
However, the movie does have a meaningful message at its core, and in some places, the over-the-top acting might have been necessary to get the emotions across. But sticking with that approach all the way through, without giving the story a proper ending, was a mistake that turned the movie into what felt like a long plea for sympathy.
There's one good thing that might come out of this movie, though. It could make people think twice about making reckless decisions, like jumping into something risky without thinking it through. If the exaggerated struggles shown in the movie make viewers more cautious about taking big risks without planning, then at least the movie has done something useful. In a roundabout way, the movie's over-the-top take on its story could end up being a warning to think carefully before diving into something dangerous.
The Goat Life: A Journey Through Resilience and Compassion
In a world where many films strive to elicit strong reactions-whether positive or negative-it's intriguing to ponder why some might feel insulted by "The Goat Life." At its core, this movie chronicles a man's journey through life, emphasizing that not everyone has the fortune of finding what they initially seek. Life often unfolds in unexpected ways, presenting opportunities that can be both rewarding and challenging. Ultimately, how we respond to these experiences is shaped by our attitudes and the manners we exhibit.
The narrative is compelling, imparting valuable lessons about kindness and empathy. It reminds us that in a world filled with good and bad, the ability to be compassionate towards one another is paramount. Each individual faces their own struggles, and we must remember that not everyone is as fortunate as others.
Importantly, "The Goat Life" transcends specific ethnicities, races, or religions; its themes are universal. The story could unfold in any corner of the globe, reflecting the shared human experience. By opening our eyes to the diversity around us, we come to understand that people possess different perspectives and manners of interaction. This film serves as a reminder that we all have unique stories, and our varying paths deserve respect and understanding.
In essence, "The Goat Life" is an invitation to embrace life's unpredictability with resilience and compassion, encouraging viewers to appreciate the rich tapestry of human experience that binds us all.
The narrative is compelling, imparting valuable lessons about kindness and empathy. It reminds us that in a world filled with good and bad, the ability to be compassionate towards one another is paramount. Each individual faces their own struggles, and we must remember that not everyone is as fortunate as others.
Importantly, "The Goat Life" transcends specific ethnicities, races, or religions; its themes are universal. The story could unfold in any corner of the globe, reflecting the shared human experience. By opening our eyes to the diversity around us, we come to understand that people possess different perspectives and manners of interaction. This film serves as a reminder that we all have unique stories, and our varying paths deserve respect and understanding.
In essence, "The Goat Life" is an invitation to embrace life's unpredictability with resilience and compassion, encouraging viewers to appreciate the rich tapestry of human experience that binds us all.
From the shores of Kerala, India, The Goat Life (or Aadujeevitham in Malayalam) is a breathtaking survival story (that transcends language and geography) about an Indian man who is forced to work as a goat herder in a Saudi desert against his will. Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran underwent an arduous transformation for this role, and his performance is amplified by stunning visuals and a haunting score. Director Blessy's tale is an exploration of hope and resilience that lingers long after the credits roll. I would highly recommend Aadujeevitham to witness Prithviraj's skilful acting and how immersive the world is.
Did you know
- TriviaPrithviraj gained weight to 98 kilograms and then reduced to 67 kilograms for his role.
- SoundtracksMeharbaann O Rahmaan (Hindi)
Written by Prasoon Joshi
Music by A.R Rahman
Performed by Jithin Raj
- How long is The Goat Life?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Keçilerle Yaşam
- Filming locations
- Wadi Rum, Jordan(desert scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $625,000
- Gross worldwide
- $5,138,042
- Runtime2 hours 53 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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