'Don't Breathe' director confused by lack of intimacy in Bollywood films

Fede Alvarez is rather confused about how Hindi films work. Moreover, it seems it has been a really really long time since he saw a Bollywood film as he clearly thinks nobody kisses in them. Sure, our sanskaari censor board jumps in from time to time, but it isn't exactly two flowers kissing in the sunset anymore.

"For god's sake, kiss." That's how director Fede Alvarez, whose new film Don't Breathe is releasing in India on Friday, reacted when he chanced upon a Bollywood film.

Alvarez, who had helmed the Evil Dead reboot which hit the screens in 2013, said he still loves Bollywood for its "maturity".

Talking about his perception of Indian cinema, Alvarez told IANS in an email interview: "Yes, I love it. I wish I could remember the title (of a Hindi movie I've seen)! But it's difficult to remember their titles.

"But there was one in particular I loved. I saw it when I was studying films and getting my masters in screenwriting in Ottawa back in 2004-2005. I can't remember the title, but it was sort of, it was like the 'Titanic' of Bollywood."

He added: "What I love the most (about Bollywood) is the maturity of the story... You know just, the more you believe in your imagination and actually the beautiful stream, the better it is.

"The big Bollywood love story have me fascinating that through three whole hours of just love and in the end they don't even kiss. I am like for god's sake, KISS!"

Perhaps, Alvarez saw an old Hindi movie, but of what he remembers of the first time he saw a Bollywood movie, he says "I couldn't believe it."

"But of course I understood it and I was like 'Oh my god, they're so powerful and so interesting for films in general. Right? They leave the audience to want it more. It's always the audience who wants it more!"

An Uruguayan filmmaker, Alvarez tells the tale of a group of friends who break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they will get away with the perfect heist, through Don't Breathe.

The film stars Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto and Stephen Lang in key roles.

There's nothing in particular that the director feels would appeal to the Indian audience, but he says his movie is "universal" in its theme and treatment.

"That's one of the beauties of Hollywood movies, it's one those things like when I'm sitting down and I'm going to write a story, I always have to have in mind that I'm not talking to just my friends and the movie is not just for me.

"I know that I'm making a movie and that I have to make a movie for the world and that means in this case that the scenes and the ideas that we are talking about are just universal. Everything you see in this movie is nothing of the American culture or the Uruguay culture. It's going to be something that's universal."

He stressed how movies must always be about themes that are about humanity in general.

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IANS