The Lunchbox

The Blu-ray and DVD release of The Lunchbox comes with a small but thoughtful set of extras.

Writer/director Ritesh Batra talks about his inspiration for the film, citing the Latin American magic realists and insisting that he looks more to literature than film. He's a quietly spoken presence, which makes it come as no surprise that he takes a collaborative approach with his actors, trying to bring the script closer to them to enhance their performances. He also talks about the "miracle" of mixed up lunchboxes in a way that's likely to convince you of the magic in the everyday.

A second interview with Nimrat Kaur, who plays Ila, is also comprehensive, if not quite as interesting. She talks about the motivations of her character, the changing status of women in India today and offers an insight into the difficulty of shooting film in a non-linear fashion.

Also included, is Batra's simple but sweet short film Cafe Regular, Cairo. Shot at a single table, a man (Alaa Ezzat) and a woman (Mai Abozeed) talk about the possibility of having sex. The set-up is basic but the script is enjoyably unpredictable and the conclusion for romantics.

The trailer is also included.