The arithmetic of life is that twice two is not always four, sometimes five, sometimes three. I watched this lovely movie for the first time. I don’t know any actor, but I was attracted to the plot itself, which has never happened in Indian cinema. At least I've never seen this, and I've been watching Indian cinema for 25 years.
I was interested in the film. After completing different levels of education and obtaining different diplomas, a young person cannot find work. As a result, he comes to the conclusion that the education system is to blame for everything, which deceived him that without knowledge it is impossible to find a job, but with knowledge he will definitely have a job. Not getting the expected result, he decides to sue the education system.
After all, he is already an adult man, 30 years old, lives “somewhat” on the money of his father, older brother and daughter-in-law. And he doesn't just sit and watch TV all day long. He graduated from high school, then college, then university, received a higher education and a doctorate, but no one needs his specialty in his city. And even in neighboring cities, he did not need, and he spent 20 years of his life studying (starting with the first grade of school), and three years looking for a job in his received specialty. But if you think about it, now literally all over the world you need someone: cashier, loader, seller, driver ... But what if the school/college/institute does not teach the seller? Not everyone wants to be a poor salesman. Some get some degree to become rich and successful and to provide for their parents in old age. Over time. Maybe.
But all parents tell their children that they need to learn, learn and learn. And teachers and teachers of universities echo them. It is not only light, but also beauty, confidence and wealth. Although this is not always the case in life. Quite the opposite.
But the teachers promised that the boy would grow up, get an education and a good job. But now the boy is an adult uncle and there is no job. What to do now and who will return all these long fruitless years of life to the former student, and all the money spent on training, and interest for those years that he unsuccessfully seeks a job in his specialty?
In this, I understand the main character of the film, when watching it, it was like a knife to my heart. I myself spent 6 years of my life getting higher education, I also have a bachelor’s degree (schooling is not considered free and compulsory secondary education), I graduated from the institute with honors, I have a red diploma, and I could not get a job on it. She studied law, dreamed of being a criminal investigator and fighting crime, and made every effort to get an appropriate education, but she did not get a job. After graduation, I went around ALL police departments in our city (this was before the reform, when they had not yet become police), but everywhere I was refused. Although I knew that the police are sorely lacking people, and they need newly graduated students. I was ready to do anything, and sit quietly at work, and watch the day, and the first three years after the job to have no personal life and not get married (so as not to go on maternity leave immediately after employment), in general, all the requirements. But even that didn't help. I went to the regional center in search of work, even knelt in front of the heads of police departments, cried, begged to hire me, but... everything was in vain. I even had a letter of recommendation from the curator of our group, in the past she was an investigator herself, worked for 25 years, and decided to help me as my best student. But that didn't help either. I spent a whole year going to every police station every day, but I achieved nothing. And then all my dreams were shattered and it seemed that my whole life had collapsed. It was terrible.
So yesterday, while watching this film, I was imbued with the problems of the main character, especially when his whole family called him a complete incompetent, lazy and dumb, and only his grandmother supported him. He just wanted to work exactly in his specialty, and not where he would have to and by whom he would have to, for this he studied.
India often comes up with interesting stories. Director Harry Bhatti made a very unusual film, the plot in which I do not even remember that anywhere before. This film teaches and shows that twice two will (sometimes) be 5. It's like the joke: "How much will it be if you multiply 7 by 8?" “Are we selling or buying?”
In this case, something similar is happening. I liked the position of the judge who handled this case, which was the first time that a former student and student had been asked by the court to pay back their tuition for 20 years, and for the false promises of teachers that if you got a good education, you would get a good job. And the trial was public, which was broadcast on television and saw the whole country. But here's how it ended, and if the guy managed to win the case, it's got to be watched. A film with a genre of drama, but I would say that the film has a subgenre of comedy, although it will not be particularly funny, just funny.
But if you think about it, it's all right, while father and mother work for pennies on manual hard work, the son wants to become someone and not work so hard, but at the same time provide himself and his parents with money. And it’s time to start and support a family, but you don’t work – no one needs you. Now I think it’s no secret that many students after the institute work those who are needed by the employer (builder, guard, seller), and not those who have studied.
The Arithmetic of Life is a unique look at the unemployed youth of Punjab and their suffering. Millions of young people in India have higher education and even advanced degrees, but are unable to find work in their own specialties in their own country without going abroad. But how many years of life and how much money is spent on training, often the whole family of a guy contributes to this. And it's all for nothing? Do you even need that training?
I really liked the film because of its content concept and great comedy. The film definitely carries a great message to all young people, and the storyline delights until the very end. I recommend it to everyone who has experienced such a thing in his life, and who is close to the ordeal of the main character of the film.
10 out of 10