A simple tale that has been subtly told
Ribbon
Direction: Rakhee
Sandilya
Actors: Kalki Koechlin,
Sumeet Vyas
Rating:
It’s refreshing to see a Hindi movie about a couple who have just become parents.
The Kalki Koechlin and Sumeet Vyas starrer, Ribbon, is realistic but not preachy, subtle yet engaging. The film opens with Sahana (Koechlin), a corporate strategist, realising she is pregnant. It’s unplanned, and she is not ready.
Her husband Karan (Vyas) manages to convince her that they’ll manage, but along the way we are privy to the fights and discussions, challenges and misfortunes.
The baby arrives, bringing fresh chaos in its wake.
Amid the nappy-changing and struggles to find a nanny, the young parents’ arguments and indecision feel genuine.
This is just a regular couple, in love, living together and trying to deal with a tricky curve ball while juggling deadlines at work and struggling to pay the EMIs.
Anyone with a clear memory of the early years of parenthood will identify.
Koechlin and Vyas are clearly comfortable in their roles; you can tell that a lot of the dialogue is improvised.
The film touches upon issues of sexual assault, stereotyping, and discrimination in the workplace, but does so with a light and subtle hand.
You feel the agony and humiliation, but you’re not beaten over the head with it.
If Ribbon has a failing, it’s that the story goes nowhere — that could be seen as one of its strengths, or you could end up feeling like you’d just spent the afternoon at the neighbour’s.