Film Curation : Intricate interplay between victimhood and villainy

Welcome to my curatorial list. I hope my curatorial address would make you re-look at these films slightly differently.

CURATION 1 : "Bridging the Victim and the Villain: Exploring the cinematic transformations through Loss, Grief, and Pain.

This curation addresses the intricate interplay between victimhood and villainy, illuminated through the transformative power of loss, grief, and pain. At the heart of our exploration lies the recognition of human depravity and our innate propensity towards violence but also our capacity for penance and transformation. Most of the films showcase the cyclic and interlinked nature of violence and trauma; questioning the dichotomy of the oppressed and oppressor and how often the roles can reverse.

It includes seven compelling films spanning diverse genres, languages, cinematic styles, and decades that showcase this journey from a victim to a villain or a perpetrator triggered by trauma or inner turmoil. The films are as follows:

1. "Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street " (2007) is an English Language musical directed By Tim Burton.

The titular character, Sweeney Todd, embarks on a vengeful quest for retribution after suffering immense loss and betrayal. Once a loving family man known as Benjamin Barker, Sweeney Todd's descent into darkness begins when he is wrongfully imprisoned by Judge Turpin, leading to the loss of his family and livelihood. Fueled by grief and a desire for revenge, he transforms into a remorseless murderer, dispatching his innocent customers and turning them into meat pies with the help of Mrs. Lovett. She harbors unrequited feelings for Todd and becomes his accomplice in the murder of the innocents. As the narrative unfolds, Todd's moral ambiguity blurs the lines between hero and villain, justice and vengeance, victim and perpetrator. Here the protagonist, once a victim of injustice, morphs into a greater monster than the antagonist.

2. "Badlapur" (2015) is a Hindi language Thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan.

The film revolves around a loving family man named Raghav who seeks justice for the brutal murder of his wife and young son during a bank robbery. Consumed by grief and rage, Raghav becomes singularly focused on avenging the deaths of his loved ones. Despite his noble intentions of seeking justice, Raghav's relentless quest for retribution leads him to commit morally questionable acts like murder and sexual violence. On the opposing side, we have Liak, who killed Raghav's family and initially portrayed as a ruthless and cunning criminal who is willing to resort to violence and deceit in order to achieve his goals. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Laik is not evil for evil's sake, but rather a product of his environment and circumstances; and he exhibits moments of vulnerability and empathy. In the end Raghav has transformed into a murderer with no desire for redemption whereas Liak through his actions finally redeems himself, thus subverting our notion of the hero and the villain. Their interaction and character arc forces viewers to confront difficult questions about  justice, forgiveness, and redemption and the cyclic nature of violence and a necessity to break that.

3. "Antichrist" (2009) is an English Language horror drama directed by Lars Von Trier 

The film follows a grieving couple, identified simply as He and She, as they seek solace in a secluded cabin amidst a dense forest following the tragic loss of their child. As He and She grapple with the overwhelming grief of their loss, their emotional turmoil manifests in increasingly disturbing ways. With each passing moment, the boundaries between the physical world and the realm of the psyche begin to dissolve, leading to shocking acts of violence and depravity. The film explores themes of grief, trauma, and the inherent darkness and inclination towards evil that lurks within the human soul and psyche.It plays with the idea of nature as inherently cruel.

4. "Parinati" (1989) is a Hindi language drama directed by Prakash Jha

The narrative revolves around a seemingly virtuous couple whose lives take a dark turn as they become ensnared by greed and desperation. However at the heart of the story is a couple confronted by the separation from their son, and this loss and grief becomes the catalyst for a series of morally compromising decisions. Initially driven by the desperate need to reunite with their child, the couple embarks on a journey to earn money by murdering the rich guests who visit their inn. Despite accumulating enough wealth, this couple does not stop - now addicted to greed and violence. The couple, once regarded as upstanding members of society, transitions into vicious, greedy murderers who prey on their innocent trusting guests in their sleep. In contrast to their morally compromised actions, "Parinati" juxtaposes the couple's behavior with that of a group of dacoits who, despite their criminal inclinations, demonstrate a code of ethics and restraint. This ethical dilemma serves to underscore the couple's moral decline.The consequences of their actions come full circle: the couple, unknowingly, becomes the victim of their own greed when they inadvertently loot and kill their own son. The protagonists' descent into greed and violence reveals the hidden depths of the human psyche, where repressed desires and traumas lurk beneath the surface. The characters blur the line between good and evil, challenging essentialist notions of virtue and vice.

5. "Midsommar" (2019) is an English (and Swedish) language horror film by Ari Aster

At the center of the narrative is Dani, the protagonist, who is grappling with the recent loss of her family and the strain on her relationship with her boyfriend, Christian. Seeking solace and distraction from their personal troubles, Dani, Christian and his friends embark on a journey to Sweden to partake in a midsummer festival. However, their idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn when they become entangled in the rituals of a secluded pagan cult. As the film unfolds, Dani's grief and emotional turmoil intensify, culminating in a disturbing transformation that blurs the lines between victimhood and agency. Her journey serves as a potent exploration of grief and the ways in which it can manifest in unexpected and unsettling ways. One of the most striking aspects of "Midsommar" is its portrayal of ancient traditions and ceremonies.The film's visual aesthetics defies the conventions of traditional horror cinema and further contribute to its unique atmosphere, with bright, sun-drenched landscapes and intricate floral arrangements juxtaposed against the dark undercurrents of the narrative. This contrast between beauty and horror serves to heighten the sense of unease. The seemingly serene surroundings mask the cult's sinister intentions just like human depravity is often masked by civility. This point is elaborately illustrated through the action of cult members.

6. "Martyrs" *2008) is A french Horror drama directed by Pascal Laugier 

The narrative centers around two young women: Lucie and Anna. Lucie is portrayed as a victim of severe childhood abuse, haunted by traumatic memories that continue to torment her into adulthood. As the story unfolds, Lucie's traumatic past drives her relentless quest for revenge against those responsible for her torment. Lucie's trauma takes a monstrous form, forcing her to continue this cycle of violence. Anna, while initially unaware of the extent of Lucie's trauma, becomes entangled in her friend's vengeful mission, providing support and companionship along the way. However Anna's story takes a turn, she gets captured by the cult and becomes a victim of similar torture. Her painful experiences force her to disassociate and go into a trance like state - which her tormentors believe to be a transcendent state, where a victim transforms into a martyr. The film delves into themes of trauma, suffering, and transcending it.

7. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017) is an English language Drama directed by Martin McDonagh

The film centers around Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother who takes bold and drastic measures to seek justice for her daughter's rape and murder. Mildred's actions serve as a catalyst for a series of unexpected consequences. At one point, her character arc veers towards an anti-hero but it never fully reaches there. While Mildred herself grapples with her own flaws and moral ambiguities, other characters like Officer Jason Dixon exhibit subtle yet pervasive forms of violence, such as racism, homophobia, and othering. However, as the narrative unfolds, Dixon undergoes a gradual transformation. Despite his flaws, he possesses a sense of morality and a desire for redemption. Through his interactions with Mildred and his own introspective journey, Dixon begins to question his previous actions and reevaluate his priorities.  Ultimately, Dixon's journey underscores the film's message that true justice and healing can only be achieved through understanding, empathy, and a willingness to confront the complexities of the human condition. His redemption arc adds depth and complexity to the narrative, challenging viewers to reconsider their preconceptions and judgments about good and the bad - the hero and the villain. 

In all these films violence is a product created out of unresolved trauma and emotional pain. It illustrates the concept "Hurt people, hurt people". Family or a lack thereof is central to all these stories - loss of a family member often triggers the violence and moral corruption that drives the story forward. These are not the only films that grapple with this subject; Films like Denis Villeneuve's "Prisoners," Anurag Kashyap's "Ugly," Park Chan Wook's "Thirst," Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill," Joel Schumacher's "8MM," Kim Jee woon's I saw the devil, Lee Chang-dong's "Burning," etc., all delve into similar topics. However, the currently selected titles showcase not only a negative transformation of characters but also focus on the descent into depraved and taboo behaviors like cannibalism in "Sweeney Todd," murdering loved ones in "Parinati" and "Antichrist," the act of the "hero" murdering innocent people in "Badlapur," ritualistic murders in a cult in "Midsommar," and "Martyrs," etc., showcasing the possibility of moral degradation even in "good," moral, and once well-adjusted humans. Two films in our selection, "Martyrs" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,"and "Badlapur" serve as antitheses to the overarching theme. While these films depict journeys from victim to villain, they also offer glimpses of redemption and transcendence, challenging traditional notions of moral absolutism. Badlapur also questions the inevitability of this character arc, suggesting a need to break from the grips of violence and trauma.

The inclusion of these films is driven by a desire to explore and understand the cruelty and violence inherent in human nature. By presenting nuanced portrayals of characters grappling with loss and despair, we seek to subvert the dichotomy of heroism and villainy, highlighting the blurred boundaries between the two. Through this curation, we focus on the universal themes of loss, grief, pain and trauma, which transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. By selecting films from diverse cultural backgrounds and cinematic traditions, we seek to offer a global perspective on the human condition, fostering empathy and understanding across borders