Director Bijon’s feature film debut “Matir Projar Deshe” follows Jamal through his perils and we, the audience, breathe a sigh of relief learning that we can now return to the theatres to watch a commendable local film.
With realistic dialogues, the performances in “Matir Projar Deshe” were nothing short of outstanding. From the child actors, Mahmudur Anindo and Sheuly Akther Jarin, to the well-established famous ones – every performer gave the audience some scenes to remember. When Lakkhi’s father promises to pay the steep dowry not knowing how he’ll manage the money, or the scene in which Lakkhi runs across the golden corn field in her blood red wedding dress, are memorable.
The background score was at times uplifting and melancholy at others, building up a steadily growing boulder of a lump in the audiences’ throats. The vibrant landscapes with bright yellow fields and Catkin flowers dancing in the high wind and the timeless mosque in the middle of nowhere are just some of the many breathtaking locations captured in this film.
The story structure of “Matir Projar Deshe” is somewhat playful, yet it works, as the audience is always on board and never bored. The first act is mostly about Jamal’s friendship with his friend, Lokkhi. She is largely absent in the rest of the film, with the exception of one scene where Jamal goes to see her at her in-laws’ place. That scene brings Lokkhi’s storyline to a close.
Another notable choice was to introduce Jamal’s mother, Fatima, later in the film, from which point the story slowly becomes about the mother and son. Bijon opted to not set up the mother’s menacing secret any sooner than needed to keep the mystery alive. Rokeya Prachi and Joyonto Chattapaddhay’s characters seem important at first but disappear early on in the film. As Lakkhi’s story ends and Fatima’s story begins, it feels more like the start of a second film, a sequel of sorts.
Some of the characters were one dimensional, like the schoolmaster who did not have any redeeming qualities, and some were in want of a back story. The liberal hujur who encourages modern education and saves pictures of planets and rockets in his books, is refreshing, as it is wildly different from the archetype we are accustomed to seeing. It easily raises questions in the viewers’ minds about how he, being in his line of work, effortlessly accepts Fatima’s past and stands up for his beliefs even when distorting them would be the easiest remedy. It was also not clear whether he wants to escape his own fate from the hands of the village elders or if he actually shares a deeper connection with Jamal and Fatima than meets the eye.
These details aside, “Matir Projar Deshe” is a poetic journey with uncompromising storytelling. With director Bijon and producer Arifur Rahman’s bold narrative style and arresting visuals, here is, at long last, a movie you can finish without secretly cursing the friend who dragged you into the theatre to watch a “great” movie.
