Three of Us: A bittersweet journey into the past
As a film reviewer, Year 2024 was off to a great start as my very first movie on Netflix this year turned out to be a winner! Three of Us is a poignant exploration of memory, nostalgia, and a bittersweet journey through the labyrinth of one’s past. Director Avinash Arun weaves the threads of time with a delicate touch, laying bare the tapestry of a woman’s life that the early onset of dementia has begun to unravel.
The narrative unfolds with Shailaja (Shefali Shah), a woman grappling with the onset of dementia and everyday middle class existence, embarking on a soul-stirring journey to revisit the almost forgotten landscapes of her childhood. Arun’s simple but real cinematography takes us from the hustle-bustle of Mumbai to the more relaxed Konkan coastline. The people and surroundings, as though frozen in time, serve as a flowing and cryptic backdrop that mirrors the ebb and flow of the protagonist’s early memories. Towards the end of the movie we find out why she felt this urgent need to retrace her steps to the origin or “udgam” of her life.
As Shailaja revisits her old home (now owned by another family), her school, and old playground, the film opens in our hearts like a handwritten cherished diary, each page resonating with shared experiences and secrets hidden in the recesses of the protagonist’s mind. There is so much universality in the shared experience of the simple anecdotes of childhood that I felt a chill run down my spine; I hung onto every word, every expression as though someone was revealing my secrets.
What could life have been only if…
Shailaja’s encounter with her friend Pradip (Jaideep Ahlawat), a topper in high school and a poet, serves as a catalyst for the floodgates of her memory to open. The poetic compositions that flow from Pradip become a vessel for emotions that transcend time. Their kinship was special, although they try to brush it off casually by voicing: “Everyone is a friend in childhood”. I for one don’t think this applies because even though we were quick to socialize as children, only a few friendships bore the test of time. Kindness was the most important virtue and it is apparent from the special bond between Shailaja and Pradip that they were kind to each other. The delicate dance between the past and present is orchestrated beautifully, with the characters confronting demons, scars, and what-could-have-beens had Shailaja’s family not left the small town following a family tragedy.
The emotional core of the film lies in the tender exchanges between Shailaja and Pradip, Shailaja and her husband, Dipankar (Swanand Kirkire), and also Pradip and his wife. The poignant dialogue, “I might not remember everything… It is okay, I will remember everything for you,” encapsulates the essence of their relationship as it weathers the storm of time spent together, special moments, deliberately remembered or deliberately forgotten. The film, through simple conversations, navigates the complex terrain of love, how relationships change, how we become complacent and weary in our marriage, how mutual respect turns to mutual regret.
The scenes at Shailaja’s old home, now inhabited by a stranger, tug at heartstrings. The sentiment of home being a sanctuary of memories, despite its physical transformation, strikes a universal chord. The guava tree, no longer bearing fruit, becomes a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Strong performances lead the storytelling
In the realm of cinematic achievements, Three of Us excels not just in its storytelling but in the profound impact of its performances. Shefali Shah’s portrayal of Shailaja is awe inspiring, capturing the nuances of a mind slipping into the abyss of forgetfulness. Jaideep Ahlawat’s Pradip adds depth to the narrative with his soulful poetry and a connection that transcends the boundaries of time. The narrative invites the audience to reflect on the fragility of memory, the enduring power of love, and the healing journey of confronting one’s past. As the film gracefully unfolds, it leaves an indelible mark, much like the imprints of our own cherished memories.
Three of Us is a symphony of emotions, skillfully conducted through a delicate balance of storytelling and visual poetry. While some critics express a sense of the film being lost in its own contemplation, the meditative and melancholic quality adds to the depth of the narrative, mirroring the intricacies of memory itself.