My Melbourne movie review: An engaging anthology film that celebrates diversity and hope
My Melbourne movie review: Set in Melbourne, the unique project has four short films directed by Onir, Imtiaz Ali, Rima Das and Kabir Khan who worked with an inclusive cast and crew
What stays with the viewer after watching My Melbourne, an anthology comprising four short films, is the journeys of people who made the Australian coastal town their home and their resilience as they rebuild a life there. Since the anthology is a celebration of 'diversity', with each film inspired by a true story, the filmmakers shift their focus to migrants whose experiences often don't feature in the mainstream narrative.
My Melbourne's four segments - Nandini, Jules, Emma and Setara - are moving explorations of the characters' sense of self and identity. These stories also tackle 'diversity' as the narratives touch upon issues related to race, gender, sexuality and disability. The established names in Indian cinema - Onir, Imtiaz Ali, Rima Das and Kabir Khan - who have taken up the challenge of telling these stories on screen, are ably aided by an inclusive cast and crew. This sets My Melbourne apart from its predecessors, such as Paris je t'aime (2006), where filmmakers look at life in another city and tell a story set there.
Also read | How filmmakers Onir, Kabir Khan, Rima Das and Imtiaz Ali turned mentors for My Melbourne
Nandini, directed by Onir, is the story of Indraneel, a queer author who is reunited with his estranged father after his mother's death. The compact home that Indraneel shares with his partner becomes the space that brings the father and the son face to face, quite literally. They must be at ease with each other's presence before reconciling and finding themselves in an open space amidst nature as they perform the last rites for Indraneel's mother.