Toby

Basil Alchalakkal's 2023 Kannada film follows a man his neighbours take for a beast. He has difficulty speaking and is known for violence. He tries to change for the girl in his care. The film opens his past piece by piece; the narrative shows where the violence came from without absolving him, and makes the change hard. Raj B Shetty leads, in a role largely without speech. The images are dark and the violence detailed. It was shot in coastal country. Who it's for: viewers of Kannada cinema and character-driven action. Who it's not for: viewers troubled by heavy violence; the film shows it constantly.