Maryan

Bharat Bala's 2013 Tamil film takes off from the real story of Indian oil workers taken hostage in Sudan. Maryan, a fisherman, goes to Sudan for two years to clear a debt; shortly before his return an armed group seizes him, and he tries to escape on foot across the desert. The film splits in two: the first half a love story in the village, the second a survival narrative with almost no dialogue. The second half is markedly stronger; Dhanush's physical performance and Marc Koninckx's photography make the desert convincing. A. R. Rahman's music is among the things carrying the film. The tones of the two halves do not match and the transition is abrupt. Who it's for: viewers who like Tamil cinema and survival stories. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a single consistent tone, or avoiding scenes of violence and hostage-taking.