Joseph

M. Padmakumar's 2018 Malayalam film follows a retired police officer. Joseph made his name in investigations but has come apart through drink and past losses, and former colleagues still consult him on difficult cases. The death of his ex-wife in a traffic accident pulls him into a personal investigation, and inconsistencies in the accident records point to other deaths. The story arrives from there at organ trafficking, and the second half uncovers an organised criminal arrangement. The film does not resolve its mystery quickly; Joseph's loneliness, his memory and his drinking carry equal weight inside the account. Joju George stars and moved with this film from character work to carrying a lead. Who it's for: viewers who like Malayalam crime films and character-led mystery. Who it's not for: anyone expecting a fast thriller; the film moves slowly.