Director Jami successfully translates a simple yet triumphant storyline into a deliciously crafted movie. Pakistani film 'Moor' sparkles with an artistic splendour – what Byron would have termed as the grandeur of a dream. It’s about cultural values, heritage, traditions and the ineffable eeriness of human understanding to deal with them.
Like Jami’s first Film, ‘O21’, ‘Moor’ is not an easy film to understand and requires attentive viewing to get a hold over the proceedings.
The movie continuously plays out on a meticulously crafted script and a bunch of supremely talented cast – wearing pale clothes and light make-up throughout the film. The imaginative stares of the actors reminded me of Buster Keaton’s expressions during his performances – I could almost see myself in their eyes.
The Plot
The movie is a beautifully weaved tale between a father and a son with complex treatment by the ace director Jami. The story of ‘Moor’ depicts the tale of Wahid, played by Hameed Sheikh, who under political pressure agrees to sell the railway infrastructure under his supervision.
The process may not be a win-lose situation because Wahid is also promised monetary benefits to do so.
On the other hand, Ahsan, played by Shaz Khan, who is Wahid’s son, is caught in a moral dilemma. Ahsan, who migrated to Karachi at a young age, finds himself battling against his future.
Analysis
The films of Jami are just like a trove of jewels buried near an old tree behind your house. If you find that trove it improves your life for good, but the real pleasure lies in the thrill of discovery that gives you a comforting sense of victory.
The branches of ‘Moor’ bloom into something interconnected to a particular region and culture. The backgrounds, the frames and the minutely calibrated emotional sequences are par excellence – you haven’t quite witnessed anything like this before in a Pakistani film. There is an important consciousness here of the social context in which Wahid’s family lives – it recalls the artistic work of Belgium’s Dardenne brothers.
The treatment of the movie is complex and will leave the audience befuddled at certain instances. But, this is the beauty of Jami's work – absorb it or sit back and relax. The simple yet delicate narrative is slow cooked by the writers only to unravel a meaty climax, while simmering the audience in anticipation. Through their writing, the writers have highlighted the inherent social issue in case with magnificence. However, the script is nuanced by the flavourful performances of the lead actors, especially Hameed Sheikh, Shaz Khan, Abdul Qadir and Samiya Mumtaz.
With everything going in favour of ‘Moor’, it comes as a gentle surprise that the music is also refreshing enough to keep the audience glued to their seats.
Every song of this beautifully drawn film is like a warm hug at bedtime – with soulful lyrics.
Verdict
A surprisingly engaging mix of reality and substance gives ‘Moor’ a cult appeal that Pakistani film industry will always cherish. ‘Moor’ has a swirl of allure and enchantment that sets it apart from other Pakistani films.
Rating: ★★★½