Short Film of the Month December 2023
By Vikram Agarwal with 7.2
drama · Short Films · marathi
sotm
‘Valu’ is a film about the human condition that is marked by the constant struggle to survive, more so if you are responsible for another life, as in the case of the protagonist. A farmer grapples with water shortages while trying to somehow make ends meet for his young daughter. Employing this circumstance, and the many tribulations that constitute it, the film offers a sharp look into his life.
The dearth of water affecting his crops is man-made, brought about as a result of theft and illegal trade of sand. When he attempts to get his situation addressed by those who are in positions of power, and thus capable of checking it, a truly unexpected development arrives.
The film portrays all of this for us minus any frills and fanfare and sustains a frugality of dialogue throughout. Consequently, at its conclusion, a comment is offered not by the things that are said, but instead by the thoughts that are left unsaid in their silence.
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