OFFICIAL SELECTION


Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival

OFFICIAL SELECTION

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

Trigger warning: sexual assault, sexual violence 

The film wants to tell a story of fierceness, and of sheer resilience and courage when all seems lost. Locating itself in the fictional realm of Khushmanda, it opens in the middle of action where a young girl, Aadya, has arrived at the village leader, Devi’s refuge with some key information. 
The subsequent events are marked by brutality, violence, and yet, an invincibility that harbors the strength to vanquish any foe. All the young women remain forces to be reckoned with in the film, bringing a powerful reality to life with their performance. The storytelling in its current form, however, is simply a moment in time. It would be intriguing to watch it taken further, complete with a cause-and-effect equation.

Vijaya Dashami | Short Film Nominee

‘Badastur’ echoes the idea of the status quo, and in the process, raises questions that eventually become primary forces within the narrative. When a man’s path crosses with a woman, Sunaina, the most terrible reality begins to unfold. Having borrowed money from a man, she is now at the receiving end of cruel extortion which is about to take the form of a sexual assault. The protagonist begins to invest his energy in helping her, and the film’s intentions are thus allowed delineation. Moments of high tension and anxiety define the plot progression as the circumstance begins to come dangerously close to a horrifying development. The film invokes ideas of corruption, of changing the order of things and finally questioning and altering the subsequent wrongs that have existed in society all along. Though not entirely lacking in imperfections when it comes to the progression of events, the storytelling and performances exhibit skill and competency.

Badastur | Short Film Nominee

The film depicts the plight of an anguished teenager. He is raped in a boy’s washroom. We do not know if that
was the first time it happened to him or if he has been abused before. The situation at his domestic front
is also pitiable. He has suffered a life of neglect. Finding himself completely alone and powerless, he drinks to
forget his pain, but will it suffice in assuaging his misery? The narrative is notable for it brings to light a less talked about aspect of sexual violence - of abuse and violation of young boys. While triggering for some and requiring viewer's discretion, and despite being completely devoid of any actual exchange of dialogues between its characters, Silent makes it comment loudly and clearly, achieving the same by tying its visuals with a voiceover and a complementary background score.

Silent | Short Film Nominee

It is difficult to review a film which is based on a brutal act of violence, but it is even harder when the
film raises questions which one feels ill-equipped to deal with, not because they are uncomfortable, as
the point of the film is to shake up a bourgeois sensibility of chastity even in representation, but because
those are incredibly complex social questions. Blakc is about a prostitute seeking justice against her
rapist, who has been a long, former client, but one day, violates all her boundaries of consent. It is clear,
that as an individual, the viewer is likely to be on the side of the survivor. Even in the writing, the film ensures that it delivers a clear
position, which is heightened by the full-proof writing. But once you raise the question on nuance,
there is the obvious risk of running down the voice. Irrespective, it should be noted that it is an important narrative, and stands as
such.

Blakc | Short Film Nominee

A patriarchal society in India oppresses women and reduces their bodies to their sexuality. The film attempts to be a rejection of the same misogyny and sexism by engaging with the idea of the innate female energy. It uses women in different situations who are being attacked and assaulted by groups of men. However, once this female energy decides to reclaim its space, there is little that can stand in its way. Through its endeavour to remind the women of their true strength, using some potentially lovely visuals, the film wants to delineate for the viewer their rightful location in society.

Naari | Short Film Nominee

Once a heinous act has been committed, what gets left behind in its wake? While it can be trauma and intense mental turmoil for the survivor, for the perpetrator, it can sometimes take the form of guilt. The short film wants to talk about the same idea by showing us the aftermath of a sexual assault. After a man has managed to outrage the modesty of a woman in a dark alley, he may have avoided any external retribution, but how will he outrun his own conscience? The film raises the same rhetorical question by condemning him to a life of eternal guilt.

Trail | Short Film Nominee

The thematic concerns of the film gain more relevance in the contemporary context where sexual assault against women is making national headlines. The film is an engagement with some form of deep turmoil that the protagonist seems to be struggling with. As he moves from one part of the house to another, and dreams mingle with reality, the viewer is allowed to interact with the narrative. The film wants to make a sincere comment about the location of women and young girls in Indian society, and strives to achieve the same with its climax and conclusion. It further exhibits a dedication to performance by its only actor. However, it would have benefited from a little stability in its visuals.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links