Weaving 'em wrong

Sooni Taraporevala's Little Zizou has been extensively marketed as a film by Parsis, with Parsis and for the Parsis.

What It's About: Sooni Taraporevala's Little Zizou has been extensively marketed as a film by Parsis, with Parsis and for the Parsis. A filmmaker from any other community would have created a furore for such blatantly radical promotion.

But when Sooni does it, everyone smiles because the people of this community are known for being amiable and fun-loving. That sets the tone for the film too and we go in expecting the same kind of masti. Sadly, Sooni, who's done the screenplay for films like 'The Namesake' and 'Salaam Bombay', totally disappoints on that front in her debut film as director.

The story weaves around Xerxes (Jahan Bativala) or Little Zizou (because he's a crazy fan of footballer Zidane) who's a dreamer believing in all the good things in life. He shares a close bond with his elder brother Artaxerxes (Imaad Shah) and a rather turbulent one with his father Cyrus Khodaiji II (Sohrab Ardeshir). While big bro's passion is flight simulation, the dad is a fundamentalist with tall political ambitions at any cost.

Zizou finds solace in Boman Pressvala's (Boman Irani) house a man who is totally opposed to Cyrus' beliefs. Zizou's sweet-and-sour relationship with Boman's daughter Liana (Iyanah Bativala) and wife (Zenobia Shroff) who offers him a comforting cocoon, salvage him from the pains at home. When he's hit with a hurtful truth, Zizou is in the depths of despair until hope rescues him and he sees his dreams turning to reality.

WHAT'S HOT: Sooni, also the casting director, does a fantastic job in choosing the right people. Not one character seems out of place. Her emphasis on the finer detailing is commendable be it the locations, the one-scene actors (like the lady dozing off during Boman's speech) or even the background score.

Sooniu00a0 extracts amazing performances from the child actors she keeps the dialogues crisp and natural devoid of theatrics. The relationship between Zizou and his brother is captured beautifully; and the sequences between Boman and his wife are magical.

Jahan and Iyanah Bativala are born actors their innocence permeates through the screen. Imaad Shah is striking even when he's underplaying the character. Boman Irani is having the time of his life with a perfectly-scripted role.

But the scene-stealer of the film is Zenobia Shroff she offers myriad shades to the role with her husband, with Zizou, with her daughter or her mother she's spectacular.u00a0

WHAT'S NOT: The problem with Little Zizou is its Parsi fixation Sooni gets so deeply trapped in it that she loses focus on her screenplay. At every point, there is a desperate attempt to either introduce a Parsi actor oru00a0 stereotype, which annoys after a point.

In isolation, all the characters have their own distinct traits and relationships but when Sooni weaves them together, they go wrong. The focal point of the film keeps shifting from Little Zizou tou00a0 regional politics, to Boman fighting for his glory and so on.

No issues with multiple tracks as long as the screenplay is cohesive in this case, it's not. Even the length of one hour and 40 minutes seems painful.

Plus, we've seen the Parsi life in films like 'Pestonjee', 'Being Cyrus' and so many others what's this obsession of filmmakers making films only on their own community? That too, at the cost of the film's script? Little Zizou is a fine thought but messed up because of too many inconsistencies.

WHAT TO DO:u00a0 Spend your money on a Dhansak at a nearby Parsi restaurant instead.

Little Zizou
U; drama
Dir: Sooni Taraporevala
Cast: Boman Irani, Shernaz Patel, Sohrab Ardeshir, Imaad Shah, Jahan Batliwala
**

At a cinema...

Andheri
Fun (4 pm), Fame Big (10.30 am, 2.45 pm, 7 pm, 10.25 pm)

CHURCHGATE
Inox Nariman Point (11.15 am, 3.30 pm, 7 pm, 9.05 pm)

GOREGAON
PVR (1.30 pm, 10.55 pm)
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JUHUu00a0
PVR (9.40 am, 4.05 pm, 8.45 pm)

LOWER PARELu00a0
PVR (10.15 am, 2.05pm, 6.25 pm, 10.55 pm )

MALAD Fame
(11 am, 3 pm, 6 pm, 10.20 pm)

MARINE LINES
Metro Big (6.15 pm, 9.05 pm)

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