Placebo Reviews

Placebo is a documentary made about life of medical students in AIIMS, the best medical institute in India.

The opening states that the acceptance rate here is lower than that of Harvard. The handful of students that make it in, face tremendous pressure to perform. The pressure is exceptional and there is no system in place to handle it.

The director, who is merely a camera in this movie tells us the story of:
1. His brother Sahil, who due to pressure and frustration punches a glass window, almost damaging his hand for life.
2. K, a thinker. A guy who understands that life in AIIMS is too stressful. He wants the management to take action to support the students.
3. Chopra, an average guy who is hardworking. He simply wants to pass.
4. Sethi, a guy who wants to go to USA, no matter what.

These guys represent a good cross-section of medical society, or dare I say people in general.
The movie is raw, ie. it is mostly edited footage sprinkled with dark animation.

I liked the movie for the realism. Suicide in colleges is always a tragedy, but nothing was overdramatised. I liked the neutral portrayal of the situation.

This movie will make you think and question. Don't watch it expecting action sequences and comedy!

For enjoyment I would give it a 7/10
But,
Overall, I give it a 8/10

Thanks for reading!!