‘All Through the Night’ is a heartfelt exploration of a father-son relationship prima facie. However one requires only a slightly closer look to realize the myriad undercurrents that constitute it. The narrative invokes memory, a fraught relationship with the past, familial dynamics, and their potentially volatile nature. 

Neil has arrived at his childhood home for a farewell, one that is as inevitable as it is essential. His father Alexander, a former choir conductor, battles Alzheimer’s and is about to move to a health facility permanently. While trying to comprehend this rapidly disappearing relationship with his father, Neil finds himself looking back at his own memories of him, perhaps in a manner he had not done before. As precarious as the balance might be, a balance that holds the last vestiges of their equation, it is still tightly controlled and molded by a shared past, no matter how turbulent. Music, at last, becomes the common thread to tie it all together. Finally now, during a moment of goodbye, the two reach and inhabit the same plane, even if ever so briefly, suggests the narrative. 

Along with portraying a poignant story, the film also does a notable job of raising awareness about the illness itself, and the many ways Alzheimer’s affects families and carers. The writing, performances, visual progression, and background score, all aid this endeavor notably, allowing the film to come together with smoothness and ease.

All Through the Night  | Short Film of the Month

It is a uniquely involving experience to watch a story unfold that leaves you unsure about the location of the emotional spectrum you should be most loyal to - The Caretaker achieves precisely this state of confusion. The film is an unsettling story, coupled with a strange sense of darkness, acquired effortlessly by introducing us to the life of a man who serves as the carer of his elderly aunt. 

Aunt Fanny, who remains incapacitated in several ways, has become a burden on Carl who never saw himself having had to take care of her for the duration of the time he has now been roped into. As the story progresses, its thematic concerns span the compulsions of the familial space, the frailty of old age and all that it entails, and the financial, practical issues pertaining to existence. 

Being a carer sometimes becomes a role that is harder than the experiences of the patient themselves, and yet, the film ensures that what you feel for its protagonist is far from sympathy. Portrayed most beautifully by Sal Rendino, Carl's indifference, resentment, frustrations and anger are brought to the fore for the viewer to witness. Additionally, the narrative does a remarkable job of portraying the relationship with his aunt, offering a conclusion that is imbued with notable and satisfying unpredictability.

The Caretaker | Short Film of the Month

The documentary chooses nonagenarian Susan as its protagonist. After a life lived long and well, Susan now shares her reflections on existence in a heartfelt manner. The candid conversation, though brief, is defined by a rare meaningfulness that suffuses a much-needed sense of hope in a world where otherwise stories of heartbreaking realities abound. 
Despite having lived decade after decade where an overwhelming conflict or war always consumed at least some part of the world, Susan’s steadfast dream for a realm that has managed to overcome the many divisive forces of hate and cruelty comes across with impact and clarity. 
The screenplay ties up the articulate candor of its protagonist with mood shots to further drive the message home. The end result, consequently, becomes a purposeful whole that is not only defined by the uplifting intelligence as well as a reflection on life by its protagonist but also by the technical know-how and storytelling skills of the entire team behind it.

Echoes of Tomorrow | Spotlight

The short film is an exploration of dysfunctional familial relationships and the relentless struggle to not let them spirit away into apathy and indifference. The opening visual makes the viewer sit up in their seat and truly pay attention, and that is when the film seems to be doing its job well. The narrative is honest and sincere. However, despite it, it runs the danger of being predictable, and losing the tautness and uniqueness it had promised at the start. On the whole, the film is an endearing watch about a senile father, a broke brother and a high-strung sister trying to keep it all together. Would their's be a road trip that stays with you after you're done watching it?

Daytime Noon | Short Film of the Day

When approaching a story of a mother and daughter and their day-to-day life, the first assumption about their familial space can often be fraught with anxiety or conflict. The world of 'Lavender', on the other hand, is far from it. It offers a loving mother, Fern, who always found joy in the small things, and her concerned, and equally loving daughter, Violet. However, a life of domesticity that could have been marked by perfection otherwise, is afflicted by illness. 

A realm of soft, diffused, lavender-tinged visuals is conjured to portray Fern’s reality for us, a mind that now lives in a realm of memories and days long gone by. The narrative also does its bit to talk about dementia and the many ways in which it affects not only the person battling it, but also their caregivers. 

While Fern and Violet’s equation might not be defined by interpersonal conflict, it is indeed defined by tribulations and obstacles of its own. The engagement with the same becomes the driving force of the plot, eventually leaving the viewer with a quiet story of love, loss and the entropy that can sometimes define human existence.

Lavender | Short Film Nominee

In a world where despair often seems to reign free and things appear bleak and despondent, stories about kindness and hope gain a renewed significance. The short film is an endearing and heartwarming example of one such story. An old woman, one day, hears her neighbor talking about a sum of money and how Krishna, a Hindu god worshipped by several Indians, has sent it to her in reply to a letter. Our protagonist thus gets determined to send out a letter of her own, also requesting the god for a small amount of money, to the utmost shock of her neighbor's son who she has roped in to write and post it. The film has an intimate tone throughout, along with a portrayal of the deep devotion towards divinity and the childlike wonder that people often develop in old age. There is further an efficient utilisation of limited resources to tell a simple, but compelling story with a sweet message at its core. Additionally, Dear Lord Krishna, evidently a sincere and dedicated attempt at storytelling, leaves the door open for more projects of the kind by the young filmmaker, Jhanvi Gadhvi.

Dear Lord Krishna | Short Film of the Day

Florence is celebrating her sixtieth birthday with her family, but despite the celebration, a dark pall is cast on the moment. Right underneath the cheer, a dark development simmers, waiting to make its presence felt at the slightest provocation. Soon the viewer is introduced to the protagonist’s battle with dementia, and the many devastating and irrevocable ways in which it has begun to affect every aspect of her life. 

Despite the love and support of her two concerned children, Sarah and Matt, along with an important work project up her sleeve, one about composing music for a reinterpretation of a Russian fairy tale, Florence now finds herself battling a disease, a disconcerting reality that simply cannot be overcome. 

Through the many conversations that the narrative holds with its protagonist, and the metaphors that are conjured in the process, the film does more than its bit to raise awareness about not only the illness, but also how it affects the loved ones of those afflicted with it. The writing is sensitive, the performances dedicated and earnest. Consequently, the end result becomes a whole that educates, but also, presents its story with sincerity.

The Cleverest Thief | Short Film Nominee

The short film, adopting a sombre, mellow tone, introduces us to the quiet life of an old couple. As they move from one daily activity to another - be it reading a book, cooking, playing the piano or watching television, all of them are weaved together to allow you a glimpse into their routine. However, despite the complete peace and normalcy of this life, every now and then, there is a moment of doubt, of unease that constantly functions to disturb the calm, to make the viewer ponder over the possibility of something being not quite right with this situation. The opening visual of the film is marked by the dark silhouette of a solitary figure, who sits despondent and crestfallen. The same emotions wriggle their way some more into the narrative. It is only at the conclusion that all of it ties together to reveal to the viewer the message that the narrative has carried all along. While old age in itself can become a deeply isolating experience, when it is plagued with afflictions like Alzheimer's and dementia, disorders and medical conditions that affect memory, it can aggravate the situation further, increasing the hardship of the sufferer manifold. Through its sincere handling of the life of a loving couple, the film makes the same point in a cohesive, comprehensive manner.

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