STRAW 2025: A Mother’s Silence Was Louder Than a Siren
A haunting look at grief, survival, and a mother’s quiet collapse in a world that never gave her room to fall.

There is a street food stall in a village where unemployed men hang around, singing and gambling. Ani’s parents and Heri’s father, a judge, are angered by the gambling. But Rhoma, son of a poor widow, often sings his self-composed songs there, as he is still unemployed. A friend suggests that he should go to a recording company. He succeeds and his songs are hits. Then Heri falls in love with Ani, Rhoma’s girlfriend. So he conspires with the friends that he often gambles with at the eatery, and when Rhoma tries to help a hostess who has been killed, he is instead accused as the murderer and jailed. In the end, the true murderer is discovered, and Rhoma and Ani can be together again.
A haunting look at grief, survival, and a mother’s quiet collapse in a world that never gave her room to fall.
The re-living of this historic trial through this film is relevant to current politics and disturbingly enjoyable to watch due to the excellent performances from the ensemble cast. If you like a juicy courtroom drama, this film will definitely scratch that itch in a really chilling manner.
With so many Disney remakes out and about in the world and loosed upon Hollywood cinema, there is one Disney film that truly needs to be seen and witnessed on the big screen: Princess and the Frog.
Considering the runtime, I expected each scene to hit harder as opposed to a series of montages and vignettes.
Desi Arnaz was an innovator in television and Lucille Ball was a sketch comedy clairvoyant of sorts; 'Being the Ricardos' focuses on their genius as a couple, but shies away from the interracial aspect of their marriage.
Coolie promised style, action, and Rajinikanth’s mass presence, but did it deliver on substance? Here’s my full review on whether Lokesh Kanagaraj’s film lives up to the hype.