The 9th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) Pick: "You missed it!"

Just like mortality, it is inevitable that you are bound to miss some movies on the film festival schedule. You are also bound to hear others say, "That was the best movie I watched man, too bad you missed it." Unable to come up with a repartee, complete with the description of the ultimate gem your friends had missed in turn, you can only turn sarcastic, wrung your hands and lament, "My life has lost all meaning on missing the film."

Then there is that rare dreadful film, which is best experienced with friends, rather than alone, for who will you make those witticisms to, or put absurd words into the lead actor's dialogues and laugh your head off.
Anyway, at the time of writing, the last film of the festival has been screened, and now the evening of awards and the closing ceremony will arrive. Bring it on please, same time, next year ...  

DVD picks: CITY OF GOD

Based on true events, you can almost smell the sweat, the groove, the heat and the rebellious madness of youth that the characters exude even as Rocket, one of the many denizens of the notorious slum in Brazil - the City of God, finally finds what he wants to do. It is his story and the story of other people who crowd the world of crime, robbery, drug-peddling and the dream of escaping the slum.

Even the subtitles can't extinguish the arresting tale of human beings so desperate to live, whatever the implications. You will be lucky to catch it at some film festival. Meanwhile, catch it on DVD.