Movie Partner

'Can you stop watching all this nonsense?' I yelled at my movie-buff almost-fifteen-year old.

'Why? He's an amazing actor! Plus, all this blood, gore - it's faux violence, it's all acting, mum. Why does it drive you up the wall?'

I stare at him for a moment, dumbfounded at his unflinching attitude, snatch the remote control in utmost rage, switch off the OLED screen, and flounce out of the room. However much I read the holy book, I fail to be equanimous when it comes to this genre of movies.

Internet and smart TVs have brought watch-when-you-like trend home in a revolutionary way. Sound from these devices reverberate through stereo receiver or home theatre system - an effect compounded further by Bose sound bars and woofers. Visually grotesque scenes get immensely intensified with gun shots, accompanied by ominous music and other soundtracks, playing all around the room. I wonder how these tender hearts watch them, nonplussed! Have they become inure to violence? Do they not enjoy anything that's not intense? Are they making only action heavy films these days? All such questions chase each other in my mind and I simply can't block my thoughts from them.

I hardly watched or read as much as a child; it didn't help me - I realised so in my advanced age and gave a leeway to my son. I often wonder if he misuses his liberty, if there is a perfect balance in watching, if his access to media is a bane! While there is no right answer to that, lately I have started giving him company when he is watching. Aware of my aversion to horrifying gruesome portions of a film, he fast forwards those scenes, albeit grudgingly. It's not the best strategy, but a win-win for both of us - he gets to watch and I get to keep an eye on what he's watching while catching up with the works of awe-inspiring silver screen geeks I missed earlier.

'Do you understand, mum, that Leonardo DiCaprio knows the entire script? Yet look how convincingly he acted in each of those frames,' his voice soaked in appreciation and I had no argument up my sleeve to deny that. DiCaprio's countenance spoke a thousand words even in his silence. With subtle pulling of strings, his facial contours blended disbelief, grief, guilt, insanity within moments. This acting-powehouse pulled off such a brilliant feat in Shutter Island that we googled to confirm we understood correctly - he's the coroner, he couldn't go wrong, or could he? Relying on this newfound agreement of evading spine-chilling scenes, we watched Blood Diamond - another gem of his movies, and I admitted finally that it was a must-watch!

On top of all this, I found it extremely reassuring to see my son laughing his socks off while giving me company watching 'young Sheldon'. Not just action movies, sitcoms are appealing to him too! And what more, he feasts on blockbusters of Hrithik, SRK, Aamir, Salman, Ajay, Akshay - action but served with phenomenal songs, pickled with slapstick humour, and wrapped with romance in exotic backdrops! Shouldn't I be glad my young cycling and precipice-climbing partner is now my movie partner?

Dona, Sydney, Jan'22