As a woman sits with crystals, trying to ascertain what they could bring into her life, the film paints a beautifully dreamy landscape, one that is constantly shifting, but forever maintaining the tonality and approach of the narrative. 


It talks of happiness, sadness, and courage, the words accompanied by the soft sounds of a trumpet and mandolin. The thoughts are presented as fragments collected from conversations and interviews, woven with this lovely musical reality. The narrative pronounces how more often than not change leads to something beautiful. 

The film presents its soulful interpretation of the many shades and whimsies of life, while staying true to the horizon of expectation regarding its form that is created in the title. It becomes a reality that is realised within the narratorial flow and progression itself, while also leaving the viewer with a celebratory sense of hope.

Open Form | Spotlight

Locating itself in a world of domestic strife, the narrative unfolds from the point of view of a little boy. Stuck between the fights and arguments of his parents, the sole caregivers and adults in his life, he finds himself taking flights of fancy, closely linked to the drawings he makes, to make his present more acceptable. 

The story opens with raised voices which refuse to listen to the pleas of a mute boy. As his anxieties grow, and he moves away from the morose painting he had been coloring in with his crayons, we are introduced to a friendship he cherishes deep within his heart. In this world of his imagination, he is no longer voiceless. On the contrary, he even has a companion who not only listens to everything he has to say, but also helps him choose a brighter, more hopeful path.

 The entirety of the plot unfolds employing only shadows against a wall. Utilising limited resources, the final result comes into existence, presenting the audience with its motivations and intentions. It would be desirable to see a more firm hold on the execution of the idea in future endeavors by the team. Having said that, Light and Shades remains an honest attempt at sharing its story with you.

Light and Shades | Short Film Nominee

The short narrative is a sincere endeavor that tips its hat to noir filmmaking. It ropes in the quintessential elements of the genre - crime, the secrets that lurk in shadows, the unforeseen developments that often result in violence and the intrigue that remains inherent to them all. While a woman watches from a dark corner, a man pursues another closely. The latter is in possession of an object the former seeks to secure for himself. However, little are the two men aware that it would eventually belong to neither of them. When the object is finally obtained, it further reveals a key piece of information that then communicates the message intrinsic to the film, one which also serves as an important metaphor in the story. As the darkness of the night stretches endlessly, this object finally finds a home, while also fulfilling the purpose of portraying for the viewer the intentions the film had set out to convey.

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