Romi Meitei's Our Home (Eikhoigi Yum)

Movie Corner *

Movie : Our Home (Eikhoigi yum)(2022)
Director : Romi Meitei
MitSna Rating : 9/10

Review:

Losing one's community, 'Leikai', entirely never to be together again is a heavy emotional toll. Leave alone losing a dear one. This is what our little boy Chaoren and the then helpless, displaced fisherman of Loktak must have felt inside their stomach. Their existence had been threatened.

Amidst the celebration in the year for reaching 50 years of Manipuri Cinema, Our Home (2022) is a gift to the industry from one of our renowned filmmakers, Romi Meitei. Unlike other films made by the filmmaker so far, this is a piece of reality show. The review serves as a walkthrough of the film.

A remarkable piece of art showing the historical account of the burning of several houses in Loktak lake which displaced several fisherman families, depriving them of the livelihood that existed. The film is silent at the same time loud.

The 2011 incident which seems to be fading from both the official history as well as the memories of the people has been revived as the main theme of the movie. A visual art of our history through the subjective experience of a few families narrates the entire history.

It is ironic that instead of positive, negative effects of globalization reaches our poor Chaoren. In the name of protection of Loktak Lake, globalization has induced such displacement of local communities in our lake and that too on a very important community rooted to our history and culture. Along with it caused a chain reaction to the fish vendors of the market as seen with the shift in products of the small market at the ending minutes of the movie.

Romi Meitei :: Pix - Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS)

The film showcases various levels of effort from each character. The hard work and bravery of Chaoren which made him swim across the Lake, the sacrifice of the parents, the dedicated teacher who drove fifty kilometers everyday to come to school. Somehow all these efforts seem to vanish when their community is lost and the social cohesion gets ripped off only to find no one to blame at.

The entire 90 minutes movie is populated with scenic beauty of Loktak Lake and cultural elements. We can find gratuitous motion of natural silence which calms the audience. The film is successful in making the audience feel at home with these elements. Shot with a 5.1 surround sound, this piece of visual art is a very realistic one. The cinematography and the camera movements seem to add up the point.

Again, Our Home (2022) is truly a unique piece in the Manipuri Film Industry. Cinephiles with a love for history, realism, and art are recommended to dedicate their time to this film. When development displaces your community, where should we call home? is a big question posed by the movie.

Reviewed by : Micheal Atom, a member of Moviecorner(MitSna).
The review team can be reached through Instagram @moviecorner_mitsna