The Lunchbox – Movie Review
Life in the day of a lunchbox isn’t as boring and heartless as you may think.
There are 5000 Dabbawallah’s (lunchbox delivery men) in Mumbai. Studies by a group of Harvard researchers showed that the lunchbox delivery system is the most efficient in the world. The Lunchbox is a heart-warming story of one of the one million lunchboxes that are lost.
Ila’s lunchbox is a labour of love that journeys from her kitchen across various sites of Mumbai to what should be Ila’s husband’s desk…instead it puts the love for life back into a dull, office worker, widower on the cusp of early retirement.
Director Ritesh Batra has made a stand-out original movie debut with The Lunchbox by using intriguing and effective close up shots that highlight the simple, yet subtle beauties of life.
The Lunchbox was produced by Sony Pictures Classics, written and directed by Ritesh Batra and stars the talented and Irrfan Khan as Saajan, Nimrat Kaur as Ila and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as an orphan happily making his way through life. Irrfan has previously featured in various movies including; The life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire and The namesake and popular HBO series In Treatment.
Notes exchanged though a lunchbox that travels from housewife Ila to account manager Saajan provoke life changing events for a young housewife and an older man about to hit early retirement. It is amazing how many hardships and crushing life events people go through and still see hope for the future, which is truly touching.
The movie incorporates many metaphors for living. Initially the audience sees the journey of Ila’s lunchbox, simple but full of life. As the lunchbox keeps getting placed on Saajan’s desk, his desire to open up the lunchbox and his desire for life grow simultaneously, and through a mundane routine and work schedule, the changes are so evident. Saajan slowly opens up to the world he is living in to smell the roses and notice the subtleties of life. The cinematography is engaging and keeps the viewers focus on small, seemingly unimportant, everyday occurrences such as a spinning fan which keeps an elderly man alive.
I recommend The Lunchbox to anyone who wants their heart warmed or their routine changed in a new direction. It is a great insight into Indian life, with cinematography that highlights the simple things and great characters that anyone can feel for and understand.
Guest Reviewer Elizabeth Palmer
