Valley of Flowers (2006)

Finished this movie tonight, I have been Himalayas 3 years ago, and spend the whole great week there. The breathtaking landscape reminded me again the good time I have been stay there, the magic story made the movie and the place much more mysterious and attractive. (There is same one in China which directed by famous Yimou Zhang), maybe the eternal love is human being's dream regardless race or location. However, honestly speaking, the last half of the movie, the scene in Japan, did make me pretty disappointed, which is different with the style of the whole movie; I was looking forward to seeing more fantastic polt when time came to modern society, their love looks weak and fake in this big city, but it ends without expectation; I felt like ate an delicious cake, choked suddenly.Anyway, I might be back Himalayas next year, this movie made me miss the mountain and air there.

Forty plus years ago, when I sat in a third run theater on Hollywood Blvd watching Lawrence of Arabia, I knew that my life must change and that I had to get out there, into the world, and enjoy what it had to offer. Fortunately I was able to do so to a significant degree. Since that time, I have never had a cinematic experience that not only equaled it but exceeded it, in that way. The film opens in the Himilayas at 16,000' altitude and proceeds to take you higher and higher. After 2 1/2 hours you wish it would not end. Not only the landscape of the mountain passes but the real people who live there made my eyes want to be able to see more, deeper, faster with greater ability to never forget what I saw. I'm really confident that this film will stand the test of time on that issue. It is a story that I would not believe could be told on film being down and dirty exotic real life and at the same time an uplifting spiritual experience. I'll see it again as soon as they get a distributor.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to attend the private screening of integral version of Valley of Flowers (155minutes!!) in the "chick" Planet Hollywood on Champs-Elysees in Paris. The film made huge impact on me. A week earlier I saw The Fountain (2006) by Darren Aronofsky. I liked the Fountain as well but it is Valley of Flowers sent my brain spinning.The reason I mentioned the Fountain is because I was struck by the similarities of the theme in these two movies –love across ages, death and immortality, man's fight against time… Human beings in constant state of seeking equilibrium in love, life, nature and human nature.Both Aronofsky and Nalin are known for invading the unknown realms of the real and surreal world. Though Valley is just a second feature of Pan Nalin, but the maturity he displays in handling of his subject matter is truly astounding. Valley of Flowers is truly an independent film compare to giant 35million dollar Fountain with star cast. Fountain is witnessing a vast release worldwide. Meanwhile Valley might not even make it to our domestic screen here in US. However, It is Nalin's film, which stirred me so deep, I felt a true sense of unearthing and that made me write, my very first comment on IMDb. I know nothing about Buddhism or Yeti or Tibet or Himalaya. But that did not matter; the film gave me enough to chew. Of course the Himalayan parts are breathtaking, like in his earlier Samsara (2001), but here the "landscapes of faces" of Bandits are awesome. Costume and Production design are top-notch, aesthetics better and higher than many multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbusters.Nalin's cinematic sense, and certain trance like camera movements are evocative; his girls are divine (even though they are playing demon). Again like in Samsara, Nalin discovers Mylene Jampanoi; a French Chinese actress gets a break to do her first feature. Nalin auditioned several hundreds across the world before discovering Mylene. Indian actor Milind Soman is less impressive but Naseeruddin Shah again proves his talent as one of the greatest actor of Asian cinema in his brilliant interpretation of yeti.Nalin also proves his talent as an extraordinary screenwriter, he wrote both Samsara and Valley of Flowers. His cinematic structures do not follow any recognizable genre or style. His dialogs and editing is constantly breaking rules –must mention an amazing scene of hero's "time walk" in Valley of Flowers with simple cuts on pair of feet walking from early 19th century to modern day Tokyo. This scene in itself is a cinematic poetry in the realms of Rilke or Rumi.I've been professor of Japanese Culture and society and dealt with many of the themes of Pan Nalin's movies. Nalin's portrayal of modern day Tokyo makes keen observation about existence of superstitions, demon and notion of death in Japan. Nalin manages to penetrate the layers of modern day Japanese life very effectively. Unfortunately, in the Fountain, Aronofsky fails to display similar command in scenes of ancient Spain and modern day medicine episode.Again it is amazing coincidence how Aronofsky and Pan Nalin, both these young filmmakers chose their hero in modern times to be a Doctor. Controversial Dr. Zinelli of Dignitas of Zurich who assisted several people in their voluntary death inspires Nalin's modern day hero. Meanwhile Aronofsky's hero researches to fight cancer. Again Nalin's episode in modern day Tokyo leads to a sublime conclusion of the story where many twists are revealed, love and lovers are sacrificed -in some of the most poetic and memorable scenes in history of modern-Asian cinema.I ask this question several times to myself why the festivals like Cannes, Venice, Berlin or Pusan have failed to highlight this talented filmmaker from India. I've been huge fan of Satyaji Ray but now nearly 50 years later there is a filmmaker emerging from India with a new voice and new style new energy - a truly modern and universal filmmaker. I am sorry to say there have been many others in between like Mira Nair or Shyam Benegal or Das Gupta –but Pan Nalin is beyond, he is in another league all together. With his two features, I have this intuition that there is something churning within this filmmaker like a volcano. The day that volcano finds voice we will witness an existence and acknowledgment of a brilliant filmmaker. Is anyone listening in Hollywood?

Valley of Flowers got me all excited, as it was the very first public screening in Delhi's packed Siri Fort Audi where audience was spilling all over the floor... Spectators were made of all races, many from abroad to participate in Cinefan. Among them India's who's-who; film stars, ministers, ambassadors, business tycoons, designers, software giants, painters, musicians, writers and loads of young people.Film did get mixed reactions, however I did not allow myself to be influenced by other's opinion. Something strong certainly happened to me when the lights came on –as if I was coming out of hypnosis. I even forgot to give a round of applause.The film surely has something and I haven't figured out what? At 155 minutes, it is long, has certain problems, badly subtitled and weak in parts. But I am astonished at the story, characters and cinematic style. Pan Nalin with his second feature (after Samsara) makes a very bold step in unexplored territories and comes out strong as a scriptwriter with guts, a director with exceptional talent and a filmmaker to watch out for. Just for all those reasons I have generously given 10 out of 10.Film's plot is both, complex and simple. It might not be for everyone but it's truly worth the viewing. Rarely a theme of love, longing and immortality has been so well depicted before. Valley… is a hymn to harmony in nature, balance among demons and humans, good and evil, life and death, black and white. It is a poetic telling of reincarnation and karma. Valley… is a magnificent house, filmmaker invites us inside with warm Asian hospitality but does not give us keys to all the doors. Now for some that will be a negative thing and for others it would be positive. Because Pan Nalin allows audience to interact with this epic love story –in honest manner.There are breathtaking moments in Valley… like appearance of Ushna, levitated lovemaking, valley of silence, time-walk and final climax in Japan. Cinematography is superb and the casting is near perfect. Himalayan landscapes are awesome. Towards the end the entire resolution of the saga happens in modern-day Tokyo and that is destructive and divine –like most Asian myths. Pan Nalin's regard on Tokyo and Japan is very sensitive and subtle.Watching Valley… is truly a cinematic experience of unforgettable kind –I highly recommend to those who love traveling beyond mainstream