The Last Lear

Mega stars of Indian mainstream cinema only rarely accept parts in art house films. It is especially rare for Bollywood. However, Indian all-time movie legend Amitabh Bachchan got intrigued to play a role for a very well-known Bengali director who is successfully doing a sort of in-between cinema, marrying popular film stars to the artistic, art-house directors’ approach.
Bachchan presents the interesting psychology of an old disillusioned theatre actor who got famous playing Shakespeare dramas. Structured as a film within a film, the story tackles several topics within the world of cinema: relationships between acting partners; their bonds with their family; and finally, the actors’ (in)ability to deliver a memorable performance. Reciting Shakespeare’s monologues as a remembrance of old times, being over the top and pathetic, Bachchan evokes the impression that possibly the famous actor was maybe never that good. Or perhaps he aged and got out of practice. This doubt brings the narrative to a catharsis when the famous actor decides to do a dangerous jump without a stunt man. The old legendary actor has his own inner demons but his female antagonist, performed by famous Bollywood star Preity Zinta, struggles to find her own attitude in the complex relationship with her lover and within the very delicate bond with the respected actor. (RS)

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