There’s always a part of us (more of a childlike) that gets intrigued listening to our familial stories, be it the joyous ones or of the gloomier sides. And when we picture these events, It’s a wholesome experience that ignites a new curiosity altogether, however, the unfortunate truth is we can’t really live these stories! But, last night I felt I was closely observing these stories, if not just picturising them- all credits to the film Gamak Ghar.
Gamak Ghar opens up in a countryside landscape, distancing the viewers from their frenzy lives whilst transcending them into a setting that provides much-needed escapism- a native place, the farms, and an ancestral house (akin to everyone’s “village home”).
Divided into three segments, the first one begins in 1998 when a family reunites to celebrate the festivities of a newborn. Through this opening chapter, the characters of a joint family are established, more than being introduced.
It’s no typical family drama! We have had enough of that, instead, Gamak Ghar is a nostalgic trip that delves into the mundane yet cherishable happenings within a family reunion. As the title suggests, the age-old family home is in focus, as a testament to the past, present, and future of the family. The narrative gives the landscape depth to the point of making the ancestral house almost a living yet silent character that observes it all, just like us.
In the second segment, there are a few notable sequences that portray the changing dynamics of the family accompanied by some subtle messages. Furthermore, there are discussions regarding selling off the ancestral land, reliving the past stories, planning of the future, etc., all linked with an underlying tension, that most of us have experienced at some point in our lives.
Overall, Gamak Ghar is a film that offers you a chance to connect to the tons of stories that you’ve heard about your ancestral house. So, the next time you visit your village home, you know that there’s a lot to take in and cherish them forever in the treasure trove of your memories.
Gamak Ghar is now streaming on MUBI
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