‘Santosh’ Gets 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score & Good Oscar Odds

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Achieving a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is an exceptional accomplishment for only a few filmmakers. Interestingly, many esteemed films have fallen short of pleasing at least one certified critic on the site. When a film miraculously earns a flawless score, it’s intriguing to understand what made every critic on Rotten Tomatoes who watched it rave about it. One such movie is Santosh (2024), a thriller directed by Sandhya Suri, which stands out as the U.K.’s submission for Best International Feature at the upcoming Academy Awards. This film, focusing on a widowed woman joining her late husband’s position in the local police force, has garnered near-unanimous acclaim from all 39 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, commending both its impressive technical aspects and its bold themes addressing sexism, police corruption, and caste discrimination in India.

‘Santosh’ Is a Gritty and Bleak Police Drama

In this film, titled after its main character portrayed by Shahana Goswami, we encounter a widow who steps into her husband’s role as a police officer following his line-of-duty death. Her debut assignment involves probing the murder of a young girl in a remote village, where she teams up with an older and less idealistic female colleague (Sunita Rajwar). However, Santosh uncovers that her capacity to uphold justice for her community is significantly hampered by deep-seated corruption and misogyny within the police department. This institution often resorts to intimidation, dishonesty, and even brutal methods against suspects.

In a similar vein to how Philip De Semylen of Time Out compares Santosh to the Academy Award-winning film Training Day, one could say that it shares the dynamic of a seasoned, ethically questionable mentor guiding an idealistic rookie. However, unlike Training Day, which may leave its protagonist seemingly unaccountable for the police department’s wrongdoings, Santosh holds its lead character responsible for the police force’s misdeeds, despite their admirable intentions.

The reality that Santosh is female underscores her involvement in a system that undervalues women and leaves them vulnerable to violence, making it especially poignant. As The Indian Express plainly puts it, unlike most male-dominated mainstream films about law enforcement, Santosh does not idolize its lead character. Instead, it primarily delves into the complexities of a mourning woman entangled in institutions meant to suppress her, and everyone else. Sarah Vincent encapsulates the film’s main theme more concisely: “Power continues to thrive even when the individual holding it changes.

‘Santosh’ Looks and Feels Like a Documentary

Dhruv Goyal from In Review Online proposes that Santosh’s filmmaking style, influenced by his documentary background, contributes to its gloomy, routine appearance: “The somber stillness, filmed in a cinema verité manner without any additional non-diegetic soundtrack or expressive acting cues, may be a point of contention for those who equate Indian cinema with a specific type of masculine, intensely dramatic portrayal.” The film’s gritty, realistic cinematography creates an almost stifling atmosphere for the viewers, serving as a reminder that corruption and inequality are deeply ingrained not only in India but globally, and will persist as long as the current system remains unchanged.

The film’s realistic atmosphere is heightened by understated acting from the cast, with many critics commenting that, aside from a powerful emotional scene at the start, Goswami’s performance primarily relies on subtle facial expressions, particularly her eyes, to portray Santosh’s hidden stress and exhaustion. This acting style mirrors real-life behavior more closely. Goyal of In Review Online praises Goswami’s performance as “laden with a hauntingly probing uncertainty,” which stands in stark contrast to the “bold and clear performances” often seen in Bollywood films.

As for the rest of the characters in the movie, they are predominantly portrayed by individuals who aren’t professional actors, lending the film an extraordinary sense of authenticity and regional accuracy. The acting seems remarkably genuine, contributing to the creation of a believable world, making this town appear as if it’s a place where real people live and interact.

Will ‘Santosh’ Win the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film?

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It remains uncertain if the widespread acclaim from film critics on Rotten Tomatoes for the movie “Santosh” will lead to an Oscar nomination and win in 2024, given that it’s up against 14 other exceptional international films vying for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The year 2024 saw a remarkable surge of impressive international films, making it challenging to stand out among heavyweights such as “From Ground Zero,” “Vermiglio, I’m Still Here,” “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” “The Girl with the Needle,” “Universal Language,” “Flow,” and “Kneecap.” Notably, Emilia Pérez has gained traction with some Golden Globe victories for her latest film.

Regardless, Santosh’s exceptional 100% score alone should pique your interest, even without Oscar recognition. If you still need convincing, consider that numerous critics, both within and beyond India, have unanimously praised Santosh for delivering an authentic and compassionate portrayal of the everyday struggles faced by many Indian women. This suggests that this topic demands greater global awareness.

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2025-01-15 07:31