‘Bougainvillea’ Movie Review: An Insatiable Psychological Thriller

Fahad Faasil, Jyotirmayi and Kunchako Boban in stills from ‘Bougainvillea’ | Photo credit: Amal Neerad Productions/YouTube

Among all the flaws a writer can imagine for their protagonist, an incredible memory gives rise to several interesting possibilities. In BougainvilleaRithu (Astrologer) is almost always uncertain what will happen before his eyes. For a fairly good time, we have been in a similar quandary – whether what we see through his eyes is real; Whether he painted a sunflower or another bougainvillea.

In a film as incomplete as the central character’s memories, it is these zones of uncertainty that the makers manage to create through Rethu that work best. His case of retrograde amnesia is attributed to a road accident, which occurred eight years before the events of the film. Royce (Kunchako Boban), her husband, takes care of her with an extra touch of gentleness, just like the patients at the hospital where he works. The delicate balance of their lives is upset when the police investigating the case lands a missing girl on their doorstep.

The film almost completely sticks to the narrative of Lajo Jose’s novel ‘Ruthinte Lokam’, on which it is based, even improving upon the script in some parts. Amal Neerad’s visual style and intricate sound design add a lot to it, especially how he visualizes Rithu’s momentary lapse of memory. Jyotirmayi also serves it in perfect harmony; Even in sequences where his lack of memory is used to cinematic advantage, he brings a believable quality to the scene with just the right amount of helplessness and doubt in his body language.

However, the problems with the original material remain in the film as well, especially the implausible plot twist and the obvious attempt to amplify the violence towards the end. What comes close to saving the film from being a complete flop is the slow build, as the investigation goes through Ritu’s mind. Just a few weeks later Kishkindha KandamWe have another interesting piece of investigation that depends on a person’s memory, or rather the lack of it.

Amal Neerad has often found it difficult to wrap up his films neatly despite having well-written set-ups (barring a few Barathon) one can understand the same problem BougainvilleaAs he almost ruins the beautifully crafted buildup in an ineffective climax sequence. The background story about the villain’s grandfather seems like a forced fit and even reuses the popular ‘devil’s greatest trick’ line. The usual suspects Seems pretty annoying

In his return to the screen after nearly a decade, Jyotirmayi shoulders a good portion of the film, while Kunchacko Boban seems only partially convincing. Fahadh Faasil and Sharafuddin, on the other hand, seem to have been cast just to have their faces on the campaign posters.

Bougainvillea Ends up as an unsatisfying psychological thriller, bearing many of the flaws of the original story.

Bougainvillea is currently playing in theaters