A ray of Dhoadhi seeping into Maldivian Cinema

A few years back, I accompanied our Lifestyle write Aisha on an assignment; to go to a movie premiere of a short film called Falhu by an aspiring filmmaker. 

It was about two boys in an island, about growing pains, as one migrates to Male' leaving the other behind; written and directed by Movanu Shafeeq. It was perhaps one of the first times I saw something resembling a normal coming to age scene, away from the dramatic movies we used to watch in our childhoods. Years pass by, and I still remember the simplicity of it so when I heard about Dhoadhi, I rallied all my friends together to go watch it. 

photo: olympus cinema

If the trailer was anything to go by, it felt stronger than the innocence of young boys in Falhu, this time about three teenagers figuring out this thing called life in the midst of the chaos of being Maldivian. 

Mal the lead, is a young aspiring poet, writing poetry in Dhivehi, something I really loved. Rasied by a single mother in perhaps the nicest lit room one could find, she works in a food magazine part time with hopes to go to Malaysia with her best friend. Dreams abound, she navigates the teenage experience under the lens and pressures of her best friend Sha, who has her own struggles which we don't really see much of. They seem to have the problems only being eighteen would induce, and deal with them that very way. The third of the friend group is Yaish, an aspiring musician from a wealthy background who can procure them recreational drugs and provide comic relief when needed. 

There's a lot of mundane here, like a co-worker who's a little pick-me, or an a boss that constantly wants his door closed. There's little character growth, but we cannot expect an eighteen year old to immediately change her ways but there's subtle hints to a better tomorrow. The nagging mother trope of the Maldivian life is changed slightly to a more understanding version of her; she knows her daughter smokes and she doesn't punish her the way a mother from a different movie might. There's arguments, but it often ends up with no resolution, just days go by and they build up to no big fanfare. 

A lot is said without much happening. Lack of consequences for actions are perhaps how things are, a very realistic portrayal of life. In the end, I felt that Sha was a more understanding friend but we don't know too much about her story. We are seeing the world through Mal's eyes and her dependence on her friend, her even obsession of having Sha in her corner so much that she ends up hurting her friend, all valid feelings of being a teenager. 

The acting is where all the stars are given. I enjoyed the two main characters' acting, it felt so natural. I can't relate to either of them but the way they protrayed the banter, the small moments, it all seemed like you are watching it unfold right before you, like you've known these two best friends your whole life. Amirah does a fantastic job as the mother, harsh when needed but understanding beyond expected. 

As a marketer, the first thing I noticed was the necklace she was wearing. There's lots and lots of Maldivian brands on display here, some very subtle like Vareyvilla's calender on Mal's desk, others everpresent like the Meemu earrings and sigil necklace from Urban Atoll. There's Island Bazaar tote bags, Wear Toddy t-shirts and flasks and probably so much more that I missed. The little nods to local atrisans was great to see. 

I loved seeing Male' the way we live by it; raw and unfiltered. There's so much beauty in it that we don't seem to see  because we're too preoccupied with our lives. The music was nice, the rap juxtrapositioned with the light. Talking about the light, why was the movie called Dhoadhi? My two cents is that it's shining a light on a moment of lives of these three young people. 

We need more stories like this, Dhoadhi cuts through the noise of the years of melos we've had with a simple story that's just what it is; saadhaa. Not heavily adorned, but touches the heart. Three whole stars from yours truly.