Being critical does not mean being cynical: Stephanie Zacharek

Pulitzer Prize finalist film critic Stephanie Zacharek on Friday said that while a film critic has to be critical about a flaw, one has to avoid being "cynical" and encourage the positives of the cinamatic work also.

"The aim or motive of a critic should be giving an honest feedback about the film based on viewing experience. Being critical does not mean being cynical. Of course once has to be critical about the flaw but also be encouraging about the positive side of the cinematic work," Zacharek, film critic for Time Magazine, told IANS.

Zachareck recently visited Mumbai as a jury for India Gold (Competition category) as part of Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival.

"Film offers you perspective. However, if you project anything in a manipulative way spreading negative message, I strongly criticise that. On the other hand, one should keep in mind that film is a visual storytelling, so lot of verbal explanation instead of showing it, at times spoils the narration. I do not like that," she added.

"I also discourage showing violence on animal to establish emotions of any human character. Brutality on animal makes audience emotional very easily. As a filmmaker, if you are using it an engaging element, I will surely criticise. When you punish a character on screen, it should happen in a correct way. Otherwise, the filmmaker has to face criticism," she asserted.

The New York based film critic is eager to watch new Bollywood films and watched "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" that she "quite liked".

--IANS

aru/lok/dg