Page 3
I just watched Page 3. It was a really eye-opening film. I was really shocked to realise what a protected shell I have been living in.
The movie was basically structured around a page 3 journalist. Konkona Sen plays Madhavi, an intelligent and genuine journalist, who covers socialite parties, becomes unsatisfied with the pointlessness of the stories she is made to write. Wanting to make a difference through her writing, she convinces her editor to give her a different column. Now, as a crime journalist, with the help of a colleague, she uncovers a huge child abuse story.
That’s the peripheral story. What gets portrayed in the movie however, is the hard truth of the life of the rich and famous. Every time a story would break exposing anyone, money would exchange hands, a few phone calls would be made and a retraction would be printed, or an apology made. It felt terrible to watch how a stars son’s birthday party made headlines, while a good book or a homeless child shelter would go unnoticed. Every possible distressing thought – betrayal, suicide, attempts at suicide, child abuse, drug use, abortions – was all packed into a 2 hour film. It’s not like I didn’t know such things existed, but all of it thrown at you at one go…
The film, as a film, of course was amazing. Konkona Sen did an wonderful job – as usual. Nice soundtrack, nothing remotely fake about the characters. It was a very real and well made film, I thought.
What disturbed me most though was how the movie ended. All the gory details shown to us, nothing happened! None of the guilty were exposed…those with money continued to get away with, murder…and the innocent who are victims of their ways are ultimately forced to change! That’s what made me wonder about the point of the film. After all, nothing was solved. It seemed a bit harsh a movie to be solely for awareness.
I think that every child – or teenager in my case – at one point at least, has this fantasy of doing what he/she loves on a stage, adored by people. I have secretly always thought about how great it would be to be all glitter and gold, singing, dancing or acting my way through life…and loving every minute of it. This movie crushed that fantasy. I don’t know if that is a bad thing or a good thing. No matter how big the passion, I don’t think I – or anyone for that matter – can be expected to handle that world. I hope that I am lucky enough to stay as far away from it as possible.
The movie was basically structured around a page 3 journalist. Konkona Sen plays Madhavi, an intelligent and genuine journalist, who covers socialite parties, becomes unsatisfied with the pointlessness of the stories she is made to write. Wanting to make a difference through her writing, she convinces her editor to give her a different column. Now, as a crime journalist, with the help of a colleague, she uncovers a huge child abuse story.
That’s the peripheral story. What gets portrayed in the movie however, is the hard truth of the life of the rich and famous. Every time a story would break exposing anyone, money would exchange hands, a few phone calls would be made and a retraction would be printed, or an apology made. It felt terrible to watch how a stars son’s birthday party made headlines, while a good book or a homeless child shelter would go unnoticed. Every possible distressing thought – betrayal, suicide, attempts at suicide, child abuse, drug use, abortions – was all packed into a 2 hour film. It’s not like I didn’t know such things existed, but all of it thrown at you at one go…
The film, as a film, of course was amazing. Konkona Sen did an wonderful job – as usual. Nice soundtrack, nothing remotely fake about the characters. It was a very real and well made film, I thought.
What disturbed me most though was how the movie ended. All the gory details shown to us, nothing happened! None of the guilty were exposed…those with money continued to get away with, murder…and the innocent who are victims of their ways are ultimately forced to change! That’s what made me wonder about the point of the film. After all, nothing was solved. It seemed a bit harsh a movie to be solely for awareness.
I think that every child – or teenager in my case – at one point at least, has this fantasy of doing what he/she loves on a stage, adored by people. I have secretly always thought about how great it would be to be all glitter and gold, singing, dancing or acting my way through life…and loving every minute of it. This movie crushed that fantasy. I don’t know if that is a bad thing or a good thing. No matter how big the passion, I don’t think I – or anyone for that matter – can be expected to handle that world. I hope that I am lucky enough to stay as far away from it as possible.
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