Bougainvillea review: Amal Neerad's film has flaws and a gut-wrenching twist

Director Amal Neerad's latest movie Bougainvillea is a slow-burning thriller that offers more strengths than weaknesses in its entertainment value. Set against the backdrop of an unreliable memory, the film borrows elements from classics like Memento and The Usual Suspects, while crafting a uniquely Malayalam narrative.

What sets Bougainvillea apart is Neerad’s ability to command attention, even with minimal marketing. Filling half a theatre on a Thursday morning in Bengaluru for a Malayalam film speaks volumes about the anticipation surrounding Neerad’s projects, a testament to his loyal fanbase and established reputation. The film itself lives up to expectations, offering fans signature Amal Neerad moments: slow-motion sequences, intense visuals, and an atmospheric score by Sushin Shyam that keeps the tension simmering throughout.

In Bougainvillea, we have an unreliable narrator, Reethu Thomas (Jyothirmayi), an amnesiac struggling to get through her day-to-day life. Fortunately for her, she has a caring and generous husband, Dr. Royce Thomas (Kunchacko Boban). Reethu becomes a key witness and suspect in a missing person case involving the daughter of a high-profile Tamil Nadu politician. This leads ACP David Koshy IPS (Fahadh Faasil) to investigate, poking holes in Reethu’s memory bubble and unleashing a can of worms. With all the main players in place, Amal Neerad tells the story of the protagonist’s trauma through her faulty memory in a visually engrossing way. The tension is heightened by the nuanced performances of Jyothirmayi and Kunchacko Boban as the search for the "devil" intensifies.

Visually, the film is a treat. Neerad’s direction, combined with Vivek Harshan’s sharp editing, moves the story at a brisk pace while maintaining a sense of mystery and suspense. Yet, the real emotional twist comes from the performances of Jyothirmayi and Kunchacko Boban. Jyothirmayi humanizes Reethu's struggles, drawing the audience into the intimate, painful reality of a woman whose memory can no longer be trusted.

Though the film takes its time to pick up steam, demanding patience from its audience, the payoff is worth the wait. The final reveal—reminiscent of Roger Kint’s iconic line, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist”—lands like a gut punch. The flashback portion is the film’s only weak point, as it feels Neerad and his co-writer Lajo Jose were trying to fulfill a traditional narrative obligation of the genre. It feels contrived, forced, and too short to fully justify the transformation of a key character.

However, if you are a fan of Amal Neerad's films, you are likely to find very little to complain about in this movie.

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