The documentary film, achieved in an experimental manner with regards to its visuals, is a tying together of the experiences and accounts of five different people, all practitioners of the Buddhist faith. The topic they all engage with is dreams - the pleasant as well as the intimidating ones, and their recurrent or prophetic nature (or, as is true in some cases, both). All of this is achieved by exhibiting a skilled use of rotoscoping to paint a picture of its subject matter for the viewer. The neatness of the predominantly monochromatic palette is in direct contrast with the surreal images that bleed into one, blurring lines and mingling into each other. Further, the specific animation technique allows an otherworldly, dreamy quality to its visuals - undeniably the strongest aspect of the film. One of the weaker aspects, however, remains its narrative. While the plot line inherently possesses potential, it remains to be realised. The execution of the story does not do enough justice to the interaction with its thematic concerns, leaving several aspects open-ended and not allowing the viewer the chance at a single thread that could have weaved them all together.

Everything is Upstream | Short Film Nominee

In a patriarchal world, harassment and more serious instances of assault on women are often normalized both for and by women to a disturbing extent. It is precisely for this reason a woman in the film finds herself capable of mentioning a terrible experience from her recent past to a current date, simply as a passing, flippant comment. When the information is shared right on the heels of a sexual encounter, it alters things significantly for the man, leaving him uncertain about the decisions he should make next. 

 The film is a compelling conversation on the very pertinent issue of consent and the location of women in heteronormative sexual encounters. It exhibits a genuine and relevant engagement with the thought, handling the aftermath of such an incident in a sensitive and intelligent manner. 

 Additionally, there is also the attempt to explore the male experience vis-a-vis a deeply traumatic event in a woman's life that can leave him shaken and unsure of how to comprehend his own emotions which could be anything from a complete disavowal of responsibility to guilt, concern and accountability. Sí introduces us to a crucial moment one night, presenting the viewer with important propositions for them to tackle on their own. Having said that, it would be interesting to see the film's premise developed further in a longer project or in subsequent parts of the short film.

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