WINNER, GENDER SENSITIVITY AWARD

SPECIAL SCREENING

OFFICIAL SELECTION - SATYAJIT RAY SHORT FILM COMPETITION

NOMINATION - BEST MOVIE NON FICTION

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Authentic, unique and extremely entertaining - the latest offering by filmmaker Devashish Makhija is surely all of this, and much more. The narrative takes us into the friendship of three women and portrays the myriad ways in which it gets tied with sexuality, loyalty, looking out for one another and lastly, but also quite importantly - the big O of a woman's life. 



The execution of the plot, which is marked by an element of magical realism, also attains a surreal quality as it presents itself to the viewer. The true triumph of the film, however, lies in the fact that the engagement with its concerns is carried out in a notably effortless manner, tying itself with the filmmaker's own comments about how the narrative came to be. Not taking itself too seriously, the relationships of the characters come across as effervescent, beautifully blending in this dance of rebellions in a small town, little transgressions, snatched and stolen moments of pleasure and joy, and how it is in these small moments indeed that life is weaved. 

The final result steers clear of any vulnerabilities the exploration of thematic underpinnings of the kind exposes a story to, leaving you with a colorful, uplifting, perhaps even educational, film at the end of it all.

Cheepatakadumpa | Devashish Makhija | Short Film of the Day

OFFICIAL SELECTION


Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival

SPECIAL SHOWCASE

OFFICAL SELECTION - INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Shot on a phone, with the entirety of the film constituted by simply three long takes, 'Cycle' is a brutal story about the path of revenge, and eventually, as the title suggests, the cycle of hate. The unbreakability of the latter once it has been set in motion serves as the backbone of the narrative. 
 An intense and extremely disturbing episode of sexual violence inflicted on an overpowered tribal woman is your first introduction to the world of the film.

Marked by conflict and unrest between local tribes, and the militant forces in an unnamed location (presumedly Chhattisgarh where people enjoy ant chutney), it is a reality of weapons, oppression and torture. If the purpose of art is to disturb, compelling you to engage in constructive thought which leads to reformative action, then 'Cycle' is indeed a crucial piece of art. It exposes not only the grotesqueness and nightmarish reality of extreme violence, but also the many far-reaching and adverse consequences of the same, while steering very clear of sentimentalism and voyeurism all along. 

The film will stay with you long after you are done watching it, and at the end of it all, it would have served its purpose of urging you to reflect on your lived reality as well as the experiences of those who inhabit a world far different from yours.

Cycle | Devashish Makhija | Watch Now

The film is a fictional retelling of the story of Elfriede Maria Schmidt, a German woman who spent the last decade of her life in India. A Jewish woman who had lost her father in the Second World War, Maria found her way to India after a failed marriage to a Pakistani man. The narrative shows the final years of her life, away from any loved ones. In the process, the film also becomes a comment on loneliness and isolation, especially in old age. The story is presented to the viewer through the account of a journalist who tries to figure out the details of her life before her passing away. It further draws attention to the issue of unclaimed bodies of those who have no friends and family to come forward for their last rites after their death. The film is an honest and noble attempt and puts forth the same intention in a sincere manner.

Unclaimed | Short Film Nominee

Humans are killing their environment bit by every day and therefore are headed towards a very dark future if our ways are not checked in time. This film imagines such a future where the air is unbreathable to the extent of afflicting almost everyone with a breathing problem. Similar fates exist for water and food as well, hardly leaving any clean means of sustenance possible for humans. Using the first and the last avatar of Vishnu as metaphors, the film aims to be a reminder of the current state of the planet and the reality we are all headed towards. As we continue to strew plastic in our oceans and release toxic chemicals in the air, all the while nurturing an unwavering indifference towards the health of the planet, the reality of the protagonist in the film could soon also become our way of life.

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