Elippathayam (The Rat Trap) is a 1981 Malayalam-language film, written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It depicts the fall of feudalism in Kerala, following India's independence and land reforms. It won considerable critical acclaim, premiering at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival and winning the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival.
This film contains examples of:
- Ambiguous Ending: Are the people who drag Unni out of his house and dunk him in the river his neighbours trying to knock some sense into him? Or are they his brothers-in-law throwing him out of the house so they can take control of his property in his sister Janamma's name?
- Color-Coded Characters: The four main characters each wear clothes of a certain colour. The eldest sister, Janamma, wears green, symbolising her earthly and practical nature. The second sister, Rajamma, wears shades of blue, signifying loyalty, gentleness and sorrow. The youngest sister, Sridevi, wears red and other bright colours, revealing her youth, fiery character and love of life. Unni, their brother, wears white, showing how he is fearful, helpless and feels trapped between the other characters.
- Dysfunctional Family: In a very passive-aggressive way. Unni is completely afraid of everyone outside his family, and Rajamma is meek and submissive even to him. Janamma is only interested in the family's wealth. Sridevi is somewhat vain and does not care for any of her siblings.
- Elopement: One day Sridevi disappears without notice. It is hinted that she ran away with a lover.
- Extreme Doormat: Rajamma. Also Unni to some extent.
- Love Confession: Sridevi is seen writing a letter to her tutor. He is implied to have accepted, as she runs away soon after.
- Motifs: Carrying a dead or dying person to water. This happens thrice. In one of the initial scenes, Sridevi catches a rat in a trap and takes it to the pond to drown it. Halfway through the film, Rajamma dies and the villagers carry her ashes to the river. Towards the end, Unni is also taken to the river and thrown into it. (He survives.)
- Old, Dark House: The setting for the film.
- Silence Is Golden: Large parts of the film are silent, or have only soft background noises.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: The main characters are the last members of a once-powerful feudal family. While most works would show them as antagonists or deserving victims, here they are shown as completely helpless. Following their loss of economic (the land reforms divided most of their property among their tenants and servants) and political power (the kingdom of Travancore became part of democratic India), they do not have the skills or willpower to adapt or survive.
- Switching P.O.V.: The first half or so of the film is shown mostly from Sridevi's side, and is the most active and optimistic. The camera then turns briefly to Janamma, and then to Rajamma. The initial optimism gives way to helplessness and sorrow. The final few scenes are from Unni's viewpoint and are filled with confusion, fear and agoraphobia as he shuts himself in the house.
- Team Mom: Zig-zagged - Rajamma takes care of the other characters (including her older sister) selflessly, but she does not have the strength to stand up to anyone, or do what she feels is right.
