the terrorist

This film about a young woman, Malli, is very mysterious and contemplative. The story, though fiction, is based on situations that could indeed occur in present day. Even more, the plot centered on the character development of Malli, not on the actual suicide-mission that she was to complete. I have noticed a huge difference between the glamorized “western” films that America loves and this type of film. The film consists of symbolism, in-depth meaning, intense characters, etc, compared to pizzazz and glam that I am used to watching. I was intrigued by the character, Malli, who steadily changed before our eyes. She is three years my junior, volunteers for a mission in which she will not return; a mission that will bring an honor and prestige to her name, but will cost her life and future lives that may come from her.
I realize that being so young she has likely grown completely surrounded by secrecy, gun-fire and death. Such a life seemingly warrants a hardened, guarded person, desensitized by the travesties that surround someone like Malli. Yet, I am surprised by her ability to trust. She trusts Lotus with her life as he guides her to the ferry. Possibly this ability derives from her time with the wounded rebel whom she begins to care for very deeply; which is interesting that in such skeptical times she is able to do so.
Though there is definitely an unclear timeline as to when all of the events occurred, the sum of all of the events seems to be what changes Malli in the final scenes. As the film progresses from the opening scenes where Malli murders two people, one being a rebel, to her being selected for the mission. While the rest of the film consists of her travels and preparation to complete her mission, most of her changing occurs during this time.

I think that while Malli seems like a hardened soldier, that after she meets the soldier, she starts to soften, or rather, her need to be so guarded is not present. That aspect that would have been part of her life had she been a student or anything besides a soldier. From that point, she goes undercover as a student and becomes part of this family; she takes on another life, one of normality. This is where I saw the biggest changes; the wheels begin to turn more rapidly, as Malli realizes that this could be a possibility for her. The possibilities continue as Vasu suggests that she is pregnant. Malli doesn’t think of her life alone, but of someone who may be growing inside her. Whether she is pregnant or not, the point being is that is another aspect of life that she will miss if she successfully completes her mission.
The filming captured the beauty of the landscape, a landscape that suggests freedom and ignorance of the conflict that is present. Also, I was captivated by the flashbacks that seemed to be connected with Malli and water, either when she was showering or sitting by the river, or even staring out at the rain. Possibly as a reminder that life continues, just as the water cycles or runs down a river. Either way, the imagery was beautiful and allowed viewers to understand that the moments to follow were to be contemplated, just as Malli was doing.
I found the ending to be perfect, maybe predictable, but definitely leaves much to the imagination. As I was further thinking about the ending, I realized that to have pressed the detonator would have been the easier solution, but to live, that was indeed the difficult choice to make. For I think that to live, she lives with the haunting memories that are her life, but also, it is likely that the organization for which she was enlisted will likely not allow her to live after what she knows. Just as she murdered the rebel in the first scenes, she too now is a rebel, a traitor and will likely be treated the same way.