Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique

There have already been a number of reviews by many on the recent film, Dhaka Attack. After quite long, a film has become able to draw the crowd to cinema halls in this country that can be attributed to lot of its positive sides, which are being discussed. One of the most fascinating aspects of the film people are talking about was its camera works, which was so excellently done. And performance of the actors in the film was all up to the mark, particularly that of ABM Suman, who played the role as Ashfak Hossain, commander of SWAT, a special force of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, is enjoying wide applause for his personification of a professional police officer with determination and commitment. His role has not only enchanted the audience, but also created inspiration for persons in the profession. It is being said that he has been able to set a new standard for the new generations of actors coming in the film. His acting suggested that he took a good preparation before standing before camera.
The acting of Arifin Shuvo was also far better than it was expected and that that he normally does.
And there can hardly be any question about the capabilities of Shatabdi Wadud as an actor which he consistently proved in the productions he worked in including several films after seasoning himself in considerably long career in theatre. He was a very real representation of the police officer in the film.
And Taskeen Rahman who played the antagonist Zisan in the film also deserve a special mention.
As a whole, the team of actors did pretty well, other than few observations. The film may not revolutionize the whole film arena in Bangladesh, but it definitely showed that something better can be done with the existing resources, and the audiences do appreciate better films. Not only Dhaka, the halls outside which are exhibiting the film saw an increase in audience, giving a fresh hope of revival of the golden age of cinema when people will again go for cinema regularly. What has been the cleverest in the screenplay was that all the major recent challenges of the law enforcement have been put in one character, against which the whole department concentrates its effort.
By means of doing that, certain kinds of crimes perpetrated by individuals or groups and the awareness those warrant for are outlined in the film. It efficiently conveyed the message what tendency or intentions can instigate the worrisome crimes of these days, instead not just blaming any certain individual or groups. This definitely would aware people of the recent threats and the changing pattern of individual or organized crime. The film alongside assured people with the commitment of the law enforcers and gave them confidence how the force has been updated and prepared itself to fight newer kind of enemies of the humanity.
The appreciation surrounding the films suggests the real craving for good film among our audiences and that they actually want to go to cinema. And it also showed standard of average commercial film can be improved if good thoughts and good investments go together. In a film we always see the protagonist always triumph over in the end of the film, in which case Dhaka Attack too is not an exception. However, it always matters how a good or bad is defined, and against what bad the good if fighting, in the film.
We saw in decaying phases of our society, evils established supremacy, which was reflected in the film too, protagonist personifying the evils.
But this film has been successful in defining the goods rightly in the context. To somewhat level, it has been able to get away with the previous trends.
However, not a single film can change the whole world, but it is seen in the history that a movement or a generation of films can influence the changes of the society or a time. In that case, this film can be seen as a point of departure. However, the film could be even better if it could give the due importance to some characters, particularly those of women. Still there can be many criticisms of the film, since appreciation of an art largely subjective and film as an art itself combines many forms of arts.

Deputy Editor, The Our Time