The concern with films which use the black and white mode to tell the story of mental
illness, a topic that has gained more and more significance in a world that is within the iron-hold of a pandemic, is that they not only make the issue appear totally bleak and downcast, but also put into place a reductionist binary. As though the whole world is divided between the colourful lives of those
considered ‘normal’ and the dark, colourless lives of the misfits. 30 Days of Existence, however, does
something stylistic with the aesthetic. There is a flow to the whole film, a smooth concurrence between
image, audio and thought. The writing is sharp, concise. The visuals linger on the screen for just the right
amount of time. The editing is clean. The voice over is subtle, and clear. Despite the black and white
mode, there is something glossy to the whole visual. 
While the viewer might find themselves indecisive about how much the film succeeds in its depiction of depression or even in making big headways
for a conversation on the matter because there is no linear or standard narrative available for the topic, the film definitely doesn’t seem patronising or overstating. On the
contrary, it aspires to be poetic. That intent comes through and is appreciated.

30 Days Of Existence | 2020 Film Challenge

The film is a notable attempt at exploring the dynamics and nuances of loss, grief and hope. It adopts the story of a woman and a conversation that she is having with herself, and thus, also with the viewer, to explore this relationship. Additionally, The Last Letter weaves in promising voiceovers, echoes of our contemporary reality and the manner in which humans learn to interact as well as adapt to tragedy.

The Last Letter | Lockdown Film Challenge

It won’t be erroneous to say that life can truly transform into a nightmare if the lines between reality and dreams are blurred. This is precisely what happens to the protagonist who struggles with narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. Danish finds himself living in two parallel realities, one where he has run over and killed somone with his car in the darkness of the night. The other is about him struggling to come to terms with the accident in a reality where it never occurred. When he seeks out psychological help, the advice that he receives is absurd and potentially destructive. Would he give in to it and salvage his reality or would it lead to a more disastrous turn of events? The writing and storytelling of the film definitely exhibit potential. However, the sound and the edit show a little want of fine-tuning.

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