‘2023’ Review: What If This Year Were A Film?

Disclaimer: This is a year-in-a-review, if 2023 were a film and the world was a set with society as characters. Purely by choice, we chose to see this film from a feminist lens. FYI, film means the year 2023 and we develop other elements as we go… you’ll get it.

After constant stagnancy in the previous parts (or years), with no plot or character development, there was a lot of hope for 2023. This part, however, had a different plan. I wouldn’t call it uneventful because a lot did happen, only it wasn’t up to our satisfaction. 2023 felt like a hyper-masculine fantasy that managed to prove its point. The creators of this film (the people in power) disappointed us with their lack of effort – a lack of understanding was one of the major reasons.

It all started with Deepika Padukone, an orange bikini and ended in Deepika Padukone’s choices in men. The plot was clearly shallow with no development whatsoever. Every time there was a chance to be better, the characters, much like the creators, turned their heads the other way. The film brought up issues like marital rape, crimes against women and even paid menstrual leaves only to dismiss them.

The setting: let’s call it ‘Delulu Land,’ does exactly how it sounds. Delulu Land is a place with no possible hope for a better tomorrow. Characters live in the delusion of things being “perfect”. It all starts with these characters convincing other people that their world has no existent issues to work upon, an image whitewash of sorts. In convincing the rest of the world, they soon start believing it. Other characters who haven’t ‘turned’ yet, are referred to as pseudo-feminists. They keep trying to call out bad behavior, sexism and misogyny everywhere, but trolls shut them down.

Women are treated terribly, both in 2023 and Delulu Land – they fight and lose – they do it again, but it’s a vicious circle. For instance, when women wrestlers take a stand against an abusive man in power, they’re made to have to give up on their career. Insensitive episodes like crimes and assault in a different part of the land are ignored and brushed under the carpet. Like Delulu Land, the film left with almost no hope of recovery well within its first part.

Characters must come with development and an arc, but 2023 features spineless people for primary characters. It’s as if the film goes out of the way to not be a learning. When everything goes wrong in Delulu Land, elements like podcasts, trolls and other misogynists participate in full swing. In one major scene, a character called the ‘Filmmaker’ tells ‘pseudo-feminists’ to stop whining because he thinks they don’t understand his work.

One would think that if the ‘pseudos’ aren’t happy, at least the characters in delusion would be. In Delulu Land, however, no one lives a happy life. 2023 is a hard-watch. The script, the characters, the setting and everything in-between seem as pointless as 2023 itself.

Let me put it like this: if we see this film, which is actually a year, as a dish… it’s something you wouldn’t want to eat or serve.