Anjathe

Mysskin's 2008 Tamil film follows Sathya and Kiruba, friends since childhood. Kiruba studies to become a sub-inspector while Sathya cannot stay out of fights; when the exam results come out the opposite way, the two change places. The subject is whom the uniform changes. Once in post, Sathya learns to take responsibility; Kiruba, left outside and resentful, turns down another road, and the friendship becomes an investigation. Mysskin's visual language is distinct: low angles, shots that fix on feet, long silences. Narain and Prasanna lead. The violence is hard and abrupt, and the narrative does not leave its criminal one-dimensional. Who it's for: those who like Tamil crime drama and formally distinctive directors. Who it's not for: viewers disturbed by hard violence.