Kindred Bodies

The single-take visual narrative of Kindred Bodies takes us into an otherworldly, idyllic space marked by its lush green. At the centre of this ethereal location, rest two characters, perhaps a forest nymph and satyr. And yet, as the narrative introduces them further, the message they seem to convey is very much of this world, about the emotional realities of the two characters who stand as metaphors for the emotions and individual experiences of any and all viewers finding an echo in their movement.

The fluidity of the dance, marked by the lithe and sophisticated flow of the bodies, serves to portray a realm where emotions are allowed a free and open expression. No longer denied or garbed under expectations or forced protocols of imagined decorum, it is in this space of wilderness that two people find a way to truly communicate to each other.

The film exhibits a notable employment of elegant movement, doing justice to the performance before us. It further allows the camerawork to utilize the space, and the action that unfolds within it, a dedicated and worthy delineation for the viewer to interact with. While a more static approach would have been the less risky option, it would have been less enriching as well, and the final result goes ahead to prove that.