Vaalvi

Paresh Mokashi's 2023 Marathi film opens with a man who wants to be rid of his wife. He and his lover devise a plan; it looks flawless, and at the first step something unexpected happens. The structure rests on one location and four characters. Every new development invalidates the last; the narrative keeps pulling the viewer the wrong way and reveals who knows what only late. Mokashi keeps the humour cold. Violence is not shown but stands constantly as a possibility; the playing is measured and the dialogue dense. It runs short and is tightly cut. Who it's for: those who like black comedy and single-location thrillers. Who it's not for: viewers looking for a sympathetic character; no one in the film means well.