Something Like an Autobiography (2023) [Movie Review] — Farooki’s Powerful Personal Story

Movie: Something Like an Autobiography

Director: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Writer: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Nusrat Imrose Tisha

Stars: Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Monwar Hossain Dipjol, Saraf Ahmed Zibon, Khandaker Lenin, Rifat Chowdhury, Dolly Johur, Iresh Zaker, and more.

Release Date: 8th Oct 2023

Running Time: 1 hour 22 minutes

Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s Something Like an Autobiography is an intimate Bangladeshi drama that blurs the line between cinema and real life. Inspired by the filmmaker’s own experiences, the film becomes even more personal because Farooki makes his acting debut opposite his wife, actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha, with the pair also sharing writing credits. The result is a thoughtful film that explores marriage, celebrity, social pressure, and personal compromise without losing its emotional core.

A Celebrity Couple Under Social Pressure

The story follows Farhan, a successful filmmaker, and Tithi, a popular actress, who are married and living in Dhaka. Their professional success does not protect them from the expectations of a deeply traditional society. Their inability to have a child becomes a subject of judgment, reflecting the immense pressure placed on married couples, particularly within a patriarchal social structure.

The COVID-19 pandemic gives the couple an unexpected opportunity to spend more time together. Eventually, Tithi becomes pregnant, bringing happiness into their lives. However, that happiness is threatened by an unsettling incident late in her pregnancy. When strange, disturbing noises continue through the night, Farhan goes outside to investigate, unknowingly stepping into a situation that changes the direction of their lives.

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When Family Drama Turns Into a Thriller

One of the film’s most impressive qualities is the way it shifts between genres. What initially feels like an intimate family drama gradually develops into a tense thriller before returning to emotionally grounded drama. These transitions never feel completely disconnected because each section expands the central themes of the story.

Farooki keeps the 82-minute runtime remarkably economical. There is little wasted screen time, and every sequence contributes something to the narrative or its larger ideas. Momin Biswas’s editing deserves particular credit for maintaining the film’s changing rhythm, allowing quieter moments to breathe while increasing the tension when necessary.

A Sharp Look at Bangladesh’s Social Reality

Beneath its personal story, Something Like an Autobiography examines several uncomfortable realities. Celebrity culture is explored through Farhan and Tithi’s experiences with privilege, public attention, admiration, criticism, and hostility. The film also touches on corruption and the influence money and social status can provide.

Perhaps more importantly, the screenplay considers how one moment of losing control can have consequences that last a lifetime. It also asks whether people sometimes have to sacrifice their principles and individuality simply to protect their families. These ideas give the film a depth that extends well beyond its central relationship.

Farooki and Tisha Deliver Authentic Performances

Nusrat Imrose Tisha gives a deeply convincing performance, particularly during Tithi’s most vulnerable moments. Her emotional reactions feel restrained rather than theatrical, making the character’s pain more affecting.

Farooki is an equally pleasant surprise in front of the camera. His natural screen presence makes Farhan feel like a genuine person rather than a filmmaker simply playing himself. Most importantly, the chemistry between Farooki and Tisha feels authentic, whether they are sharing affectionate moments or dealing with conflict.

Cinematography Adds to the Tension

Tahsin Rahman’s cinematography contributes significantly to the film’s atmosphere. The nighttime sequences are especially effective, using darkness and confined spaces to create an increasingly claustrophobic feeling. The visual style complements the story without overwhelming it, keeping the focus firmly on the characters.

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Final Verdict: Personal, Thoughtful and Emotionally Resonant

Something Like an Autobiography succeeds because it transforms a deeply personal story into something audiences beyond Bangladesh can understand. Its themes of family, social expectations, celebrity, morality, and compromise are rooted in a specific cultural setting but carry universal emotional weight.

Farooki’s confident direction, Tisha’s powerful performance, their natural chemistry, and the film’s efficient storytelling make this an engaging and meaningful drama. It may be modest in scale, but its ideas are considerably larger.

Rating: 6.5/10