Island City Movie Review

A riveting take on love, longing and loneliness…

Story:
An anthology of three loosely connected stories set in Mumbai, the tragicomedy is a satirical take on keeping up with the unforgiving pace, work culture and unyielding demands of the maximum city.

Review:
Mumbai has been the muse of various filmmakers for the longest time. The pulse of the metropolis is the indomitable spirit of Mumbaikars, who rise like a phoenix against adversity, every single time. However, the much celebrated resilience is not always by choice.



Ruchika Oberoi’s film explores this tangled ‘Mumbai state of mind’ through its three unique characters — a middle-aged bachelor stuck in a mundane job (Vinay Pathak), a housewife (Amruta Subhash) finding joy in tragedy and a plain Jane seeking ‘real’ love (Tannishtha Chatterjee). The three stories have little in common, except for the constant feeling of being caged and buried under societal and financial pressures. Every character seeks freedom.


Vinay Pathak’s track mocks the ‘dictatorial’ policies of posh corporates. The management assigns a special programme for its star employees, where they are forced to have ‘fun’. This one’s bound to strike a chord with most working professionals. The second track is a heartrending account of a housewife (Amruta Subhash), who heaves a sigh of relief, after her husband is hospitalised as his opinions no longer cloud her mind. His absence makes her feel worthy, for a change. Every woman who is told she won’t ever get her prince charming because she is not good-looking enough can relate to the film’s final story, featuring Tannishtha.


Poignant and melancholic, Ruchika helps you in finding your voice amidst the chaos of the city. Her vision mirrors the gamut of emotions every Mumbaikar feels at some point in his/her life. It addresses the brooding sadness that lurks in the deepest corners of our heart. While all actors perform well, it is Amruta Subhash, who stands out with her expression of quiet optimism in dire circumstances. While the execution is effective, the length of the stories may test your patience somewhere. We wish they were crisper. Overall, this one deserves to be watched for its riveting take on love, longing and loneliness.