The fact that this short film was made in fifty hours as part of a filmmaking contest deserves special mention. Add to it an experimental, almost dreamlike treatment by Aditya Sharma and Parallax succeeds at disconcerting the viewer with its portrayal of abusive relationships and violence against women. A strong performance by Deeksha Joshi is another aspect that earns appreciation. The film applies the parallax effect to the visuals to bring to life a narrative that emphasises its theme 'Everything is Connected'. As women continue to navigate their presence in public spaces and at home, Parallax becomes a skilled and relevant take on gender, consent and sexual violence.

Parallax | Short Film of the Day

Trigger warning: Sexual assault, abuse, self-harm 

The film presents a hard-hitting story of sexual assault and abuse, but one which also engages with tenderness and affection, and the deep yearnings of the human heart. An exploited and deeply troubled sex worker one day finds herself located between two men, Birju, and an unusual patron called Sajjad. As the story progresses, Sajjad turns out to be far from a patron, and instead is a poet whose poetry becomes an adornment for the protagonist in an otherwise sordid, squalid, and hapless world. Around his words, she weaves dreams of a life away from her current reality. The film develops and handles its plot with maturity and skill. The performances become an unmissable force, one of the strongest aspects of the end result. A few rough edges appear when it comes to the seamlessness of the sound, but the musical choices, on the contrary, add a real flourish to the screenplay, and the developing action before the viewer. The entire cast and crew exhibit immense potential, and the film leaves the door open for more storytelling endeavors in the same vein.

Dobaara | Spotlight

While the Indian legal system fails to decriminalise marital rape, or sexual abuse of any kind within matrimony, it is a prevalent, ugly reality of the world. Sardard makes an effort to contribute to the dialogue around the same issue, and thereby has its heart in the right place. The story is of a conversation between a father and his son ahead of the latter's imminent wedding. The premise of the film is well-intentioned, yet the narrative does not make efficient use of visuals, and under-utilises a skilled actor like Shishir Sharma. It catches the viewer by surprise, but does not fully provide them with a sense of completion at the end of it all. However, on the whole, the film deserves brownie points for its endeavour to engage with the topic of sexual abuse in a domestic setup.

Sardard | Short Film Nominee

Marriage can often prove to be a very oppressive institution where women end up with the short end of the stick. Denied of agency and sometimes even the basic right to exercise their will, especially when it comes to the matters of the bedroom, they are left struggling to protect themselves from the power patriarchy equips the husband with. The short film brings to life all of these issues by taking us into a single night between a couple where the woman has been forced into the marriage. As attempts of a sexual encounter progress on the part of the husband towards his unwilling wife, the plot presents its primary concerns to the audience.

Consent | Short Film Nominee

The short film's dedicated aim is to further a conversation around consent, sexual abuse and the many forms it can take in a woman's life. It further deals with disconcerting, but the extremely relevant issue of marital rape, and an eventual acceptance of trauma. When the story opens, it introduces us to two women who are in a sticky situation with their mother. With the latter having found a pack of condoms during a surprise visit to her daughters' house, the former now grapple with how to appease her. In the process, the aforementioned themes are presented to the viewer for them to engage with. A project of limited sources, the film still presents a sincere endeavor to you, offering an honest interaction with its core ideas.

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