Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Film-maker Rahul Dholakia likes the homework Robert De Niro put into his role in A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale 1993,directed by Robert De Niro,is my favourite movie so far. I have seen it more than three times now. The first time I caught it was at a theatre in New York,when it had just released and when I was working as a documentary and ad film-maker. After reading up about De Niros preparation for his character of a bus driver,I was excited to see it. The plot of the film is simple: it is a father-son story,pitting the sons aspirations for power and fame against the customs followed by the father. It was interesting to observe De Niro shedding his celebrity image and blending into his character. He did so by the homework he had put into his role; he commuted in a bus daily to the Bronx. That such a senior performer could put in so much effort is commendable and something rarely seen in Indian cinema.
Each time I see the film,I gain a fresh perspective. This time I noticed the subtleties that I missed out on earlier,like the editing,costumes and certain performances.
I also like the portrayal of Bronx in the film. Since I have shot there several times,it is nice to see a cinematic depiction of the place. The film has a unique identity which is typical of De Niros style of film-making and his depiction of relationships. I admire his ability of beautifully telling a story and keeping it entertaining. I have also tried to imbibe the style of voice-overs that he used in all my films.
