Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.
– Corrie ten Boom.
Udgam, the origin, the source. When you start to lose yourself, you embark on a journey to the source to rediscover your moorings. And when you are dealing with the onset of dementia, the journey to the origin is fraught with nostalgia, rediscovery, resolution and closure. Your memory defines you, constructs you and when you begin to forget, you begin to lose many pieces, one by one, that make you. The deconstruction is heartbreaking.
Three of Us isn’t just about a journey to the past to rekindle old memories and to remember. It’s to remember so as not to lose oneself. And to seek closure and liberation, for in forgetting and remembering, we seek old healings and new beginnings. What works for the film is its ruminating, meditative pace, poetic intent and the lead troika (Shefali Shah, Jaideep Ahlawat, Swanand Kirkire) that fuse into each other’s lives filling their voids and lighting their recesses in a gentle, demure, almost self-effacing manner as their faces glow with a beguiling innocence while tears stream through their molten eyes. Loss and love move in a languid train of memories.
You remember one last time lest you forget it forever, and you do it with a generosity of spirit and are met with resounding kindness at the other end. Your husband is patient and grateful for you, and your childhood soulmate makes time to heal you and to hold you on this intimate journey within. Unspoken words and silences move in a languid train of memories.
Avinash Arun’s direction is both subtle and powerful, drawing the audience into a deeply personal journey. His masterful storytelling is evident in how he portrays the intricate dynamics of human relationships (reminiscent of his remarkable debut Killa). His ability to capture the unspoken nuances coupled with outstanding central performances bring to life this carefully layered script. The cinematography deserves a special mention for its breathtaking visuals that add an almost poetic quality to the film.
Memory is a funny thing. It fails you when you need it the most and then when you are receding, diminishing, it reconnects you to your past and makes you anew, freeing you.
Rating: 4/5
Where to Watch: Netflix
