The Royal Tenenbaums Analysis

 The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Directed, Co-written and Co-produced by: Wes Anderson

I'm surprised to see that this film wasn't released after Amelie (2001). Both the films released in the same year, which means none of them were influenced by each other but to me, I can see a lot of similarities: in the tone of the film, the bittersweet mood that the film carries throughout, the narrative through the voice over of a narrator, introducing different characters with charge ins, symmetrical composition and mise en scene. Both the films use dark comedy too, the way they show Amelie's mother die, and the way here the dog dies, and the guy who attempts suicide. Hell, there are a lot of similarities and it's a shocker for me that such similar styles of storytelling were never influenced from each other. I was initially under the impression that Amelie would've been the inspiration for the entire filmmaking voice of Wes Anderson, but doesn't turn out to be true. 

I could see that perhaps Dil Dhadakne Do would've been influenced by this film - whether it's the dysfunctional family, the quirky narrative, the struggle in spite of being privileged - in this film, they become prodigies and yet suffer a lot in their adult. It goes to say that every segment of life can be different and it's a very hopeful worldview, because people who haven't "made it" can look forward to another segment of life. Life is supposed to be that way, if you make it once and relax for 10 years and still are the same - then that wouldn't be fun. There has to be a rollercoaster experience for us to be grateful for what we have. Lot of complex themes are explored in the film. Every character is fleshed out well, their flaws, and their emotional journey comes through pretty well. It's a nice template that Wes Anderson has discovered, where there is a unique filmmaking voice, but it also comes with a lot of extravagance, and hence it's good for them to sell the movie.