‘The Art of Self Defense' is an absurd comedy about a diffident man who takes up karate lessons from a mysterious yet sinister Sensei in a bid to become like the men that intimidate him. Jesse Eisenberg incarnates the hunched posture and delicate movements of a man confused by the codes of masculinity to the T. Alessandro Nivola brings pathos and humour to his role while Imogen Poots seethes as the woman who isn’t given her due. The deliberately stilted dialogue (“I like this belt because it is black, but also because it holds my pants up”) makes for great comedy throughout, but beyond the halfway mark the film takes a brutal turn.
Even while the movie doffs its hat to the Karate Kid, it asks if ritualized martial arts are really about self-defence or an outlet for aggression. The climax attempts to restore balance to the chaos but feels dissatisfying because it confuses the film’s larger allegorical ambitions. Is it better to use a gun instead of your fists? Are women the only custodians of compassion? And can peace achieved through violence be actually called peace? The questions are unsettling, with no answers in sight. Go in expecting a wildly dark comedy which will provide much fodder for debate.
Genre: Comedy, Action, Crime
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 44min
Year of release: 2019
Streaming Platform: N/A
Hot take is a series in which I offer my first impressions of films from India and around the world.
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