Review of Monsoon Wedding (2001) by Hassan I — 18 Dec 2013

A joyous masterpiece of great insight and profound depth exploring the fascinating dynamics of an Indian family. Never has a film felt so real, as if it's characters could actually exist in real life.

Alive with heartbreaking observations of human behavior, bolstered by colorful characters, highly energetic pacing and fantastic performances, "Monsoon Wedding" is a rare Bollywood movie that hits the bullseye on every front.

But what truly makes it a great film, and not merely a good one, is the intelligent meaning that it gives life itself. We're so used to coming across movies as entertainment, that we often forget that they can be so much more.

In this exceptional one, we care for the characters. We relate to their troublesome situations. And though this may be hard to believe, we even end up realizing that we've been in their shoes throughout our own lives.