The Lunchbox
Produced by Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga, and Arun Rangachari
Written by Ritesh Batra
With: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Lillete Dubey
Release Date: 20 September 2013
Color/Aspect: Color / 2.35 : 1
Editing: John F. Lyons
Music: Max Richter
Runtime: 104 min
Release Date: 20 September 2013
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Color
The Lunchbox
Ritesh Batra’s debut feature, The Lunchbox, tells an old-fashioned story that finds a new spin on my favorite genre, the brief-encounter picture. This Mumbai-set romantic comedy/drama tells the story of two lonely people, a young housewife and an older widower, whose relationship consists entirely of notes passed back and forth via that city’s famously efficient lunch delivery couriers, the dabbawala. In making the transition from short films to features, Batra has found ideal subject matter; he sets his very small story against the backdrop of one of the world’s most rapidly developing cities and manages to touch subtly on many issues specific to that region. In its dry comedic tone and observational use of place The Lunchbox is reminiscent of the early Scottish films of Bill Forsyth (Gregory's Girl, Local Hero, Comfort and Joy). It also belongs in the pantheon of great films about food, because you WILL want to rush out for an Indian meal after watching accomplished Bollywood crossover actor Irrfan Khan (The Namesake, Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi) carefully unpacking, smelling and consuming the magnificent lunches that Nimrat Kaur (Peddlers) prepares for him. This is one of those movies that, judged only by its trailer, could appear cynically calculated to entice film festival and art-house bookers; but the honestly of the performances and simple elegance of the shooting style transcend that feeling entirely.
Produced by Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga, and Arun Rangachari
Written by Ritesh Batra
With: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Lillete Dubey
Release Date: 20 September 2013
Color/Aspect: Color / 2.35 : 1
Editing: John F. Lyons
Music: Max Richter
Runtime: 104 min
Release Date: 20 September 2013
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Color
An All-timer. One of the 5000 greatest films. Usually only awarded after repeat viewings.
One of the year's best. An excellent film. Possibly one of the 5000 greatest and certainly worthy of repeated viewing.
A very good film. Most films I see fall in the two- or three-star ranking. I give an extra half-star to three-star films that could end up on the list of the 5000 greatest.
A good film. Well worth seeing, but perhaps less significant than a two-and-a-half star film.
A noteworthy or enjoyable film that I can’t fully recommend. Still, two-and-a-half star films are often some of the most memorable films of a year.
A disappointment, an interesting failure, or just a bad movie. But still worth seeing if you’ve got the time.
A bad, rant-worthy film. Should be avoided regardless of hype or talent involved.
One of the worst films.
