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EDITOR'S PICK
'The
Path of Zarathustra': A reflective path breaking film (IANS Review)
Rating:
**1/2
The Parsis have always been an intriguing lot universally and director Oorvazi
Irani's 'The Path of Zarathustra' is a well-meaning mystical docudrama
that gives a brief insight into the community's faith, religion and their lost
identity.
The first frame of this film is very unique. It begins with a reflection of the
water in a well which creates ripples. And what follows will surely create
waves. Slow, philosophical, weighty and contemplative, this is a reflective
film.
Wrapped with personal issues that include romance, the film is the story of
Oorvazi. It is her quest in understanding and deciphering her religion.
It speaks about; the dwindling race - who are 'The last of the first
believers of the single god', their idiosyncrasies in preserving their
purity and gives a solution to their problems.
After the death of her 'Mamavaji' maternal grandfather, Oorvazi
inherits a book from him. The book she is told, has all the answers that she is
seeking. But to get the answers she has to leave her secluded life in the remote
homeland and travel to the city where her aunt, 'Sheramasi' and cousin
Perseus live.
Here she meets a number of people and she is often reminded, 'Message to
the keeper of the book someone will interpret it for you'. As the layers of
her curiosity unravel, she states that, she 'observed the foolish and spoke
to the wise'.
With paper-thin, flat characters which seem perfunctory, the performances seem
theatrical. Tom Alter as Mamavaji, the director Oorvazi as Oorvazi, Rushad Rana
as Perseus, Shishir Sharma as Zurvan and Darius Shroff as the Intellectual and
Mazdak though natural, their act seems exaggerated and staged.
Drama seems to be flowing through the narrative script written by the
London-based Farrukh Dhondy. Most of the scenes are slow paced yet dramatic. The
expositions are verbose and preachy with voice-overs and dialogues like; 'Looking for the answer is the answer',
'There is no belief
without believers', 'There is no present and history passes into our
blood' and 'Our choices are our final prophecy'.
But, as every scene meanders, the film is a visual delight. There is a meaning
in the composition of Subhadeep Dey's cinematography. With white, golden and
grey hues, light and its rays are used effectively to create a mystical aura in
every frame.
Tushar Ghogale's fine editing of the visuals and layering it with the soothing
background score created by Vasuda Sharma elevates the viewing experience.
Overall, the film is path breaking in its own way and worth a watch.