Film review - "Dayana Mini Market' - Bollywood in a family supermarket in Paris

"Dyana Mini Market"  - by Florian Devigne Here's another film review from Trish Thalman  who says; “Although this film has already been screened at the festival, it is worthwhile to know about this sparkling, gem-of-a-film for future viewing" Mr. And Mrs. Kamlanathan , originally from Sri Lanka, have recently met with financial hard luck, and were evicted, along with their 3 children, from their previous accommodation. They now live, laugh, sleep, socialise and love each other as a family, along with the cats (Simba, their beloved dog has just died), in one tiny, cramped back room of the Dayana Mini Market somewhere in Paris. The shop is named after their teen-age daughter, who has dreams of a larger, glossier life than she is currently living.

This joyful, humorous, eye-catching production is an insightful film by Floriane Devigne, that  happily provides us with the human condition related to  integrating and surviving in a new country, by using one's wits and energy ( physical and spiritual), to get on with life, regardless of the situation. Mother is the tough-ish disciplinarian, excellent cook and money-minded business woman working her files and dealing with the piles of incoming bills. She decides how the money, or lack of it, is spent. Father is the operations manager who runs the market out front. The parents constantly affirm their love to their children, but insist that they learn and understand the need to study and work hard. The children help out in the market when not at school or studying.

Captivating colourful mini-sequences

When things become unsettled for members of the family and a moment of dreaming or fantasy becomes necessary, we are gifted surprising sequences of song, dance and animation that 'pop-up'  throughout the film which offers everyone the chance to trip the light-fantastic. The captivating, colourful mini-sequences in the ‘Bollywood’ style capture the lively traditions and entertainment known to the parents in their country of birth. Their children are familiar with this world as well. The parents retain their transitioning, Asian way of life, but on a daily basis learn to accept the traditions of France through their children, ie: New Year’s Eve in the French mode: a tower of champagne glasses that are filled with the overflow from the glass at the top. Traditions and technology: A religious, incense-filled ceremony at the local temple to ensure the spirit of Simba ends up in a better place in which a large, framed photo of black Labrador wearing a pair of sunglasses is placed on the altar. Dayana gleefully receives a Kindle for her birthday,  meanwhile a TV screen with the 9 CCTV camera views of the  shop glows 24 hours a day in the back room for the family to keep an eye on the customers. In one scene Dayana enters a contest to become  'Miss Sri Lanka of France', with some mildly gruff protests from mother concerned about the cost for the event (clothes, makeup, jewelry, etc. etc.).  There is even another ‘Bollywood Moment’ during the pageant, when Dayana dances and sings a song referring to herself as ‘Lady Di’ (as in Day) and delights herself, as well as the cinema audience,  by leaving no question as to what her aspirations are for the future. She does not win the contest this year. But we have met a family who are lively, loving,  noisily and personable. Even if they are physically squashed into the tiniest living space in the back room, their expansive hopes and dreams for a better life are not diminished.