Don't Judge Dorothy by Its First Half Hour

B52 rating: 7/10

I almost switched Dorothy off after half an hour. The 80s village setting, the casteist and macho tropes, the sluggish pace. I'd seen all of it before. Then, around the forty-minute mark, the story swerves so completely that it becomes a different film, and a far more interesting one. I'm glad I stayed.

Both leads are superb, carrying the emotional weight with real conviction, and Karthik Subbaraj's direction is confident once it finds its feet. Ilaiyaraaja's music is lovely throughout.

The only real flaw is that slow opening, which could easily have cost it viewers. Be patient, and trust the film. A strong 7/10.