The film opens on a note of chirpy voices and brotherly banter being exchanged between two siblings. This is in direct contrast with the deeply intense and poignant themes the narrative would come to be an engagement with. After a crisis, thirteen-year-old Joey and his eight-old-brother Ricardo return to start a new chapter of their life with their mother. The scene is of nervous anticipation and feverish excitement on the part of the mother, clearly elated to have her sons back. Joey, on the other hand, is controlled and calm, setting in place another notable contrast. The visuals serve to assert this contrast further as Joey stands against a brightly-lit window, light just within reach, while he stays completely covered in shadows. His mother's effusive love is met with a sombre, "I'm thirteen, mom", a reminder to treat him like a grown-up. It is evident from the progression of the story that these little disagreements of approach of the two is building up to a bigger clash. A night of celebration soon acquires a ominous tone, further put in place by a smart, if not entirely unique, use of lights. As memories of a past life resurface, the emotional darkness that accompanies them threatens to engulf the precarious happiness of the night with misery, anger and resentment. Basing itself on a true story, the short film thus becomes a successful and notable portrayal of the several nuances and complexities that plague the familial space. This is further enhanced by a plot that succeeds at offering a beautiful interplay of the many forces that pull the various components of a family apart, and the resilience that ensures that they keep pushing and falling back into place.

Crows Nest | Short Film of the Day

Romantic and marital relationships inarguably formed a crucial aspect of the many new realities that we struggled with during the 2020 pandemic. The short film explores one such equation while employing a tonality that uses both humor and seriousness in equal measure. The story, in the process, becomes the most notable aspect of the film, alongside the intention to explore the dynamic of a couple in all its subtleties and nuances. 
 
Nancy and Nikhil both battle their respective overwhelming work schedules, alongside raising two little girls. Consequently, the house is often left in a chaotic state of disarray. Much of the burden of sorting it falls on Nancy’s shoulders simply as a result of how gender roles often implicitly end up being defined in a marriage.
Despite his best intentions and dedicated efforts, Nikhil is unable to show up for Nancy in the way she requires. This, in turn, affects the romantic and sexual intimacy between the two. 
The storytelling does an earnest job of portraying how the two navigate the complexities that constitute this reality, while never allowing itself to be overburdened by emotional intensity, and instead, forever allowing humor to undercut the conjured tension. As for our two characters, they have a deeply meaningful realization awaiting them about the significance of small acts and a little more empathy toward one another.

Tiny Joy | Short Film of the Month

The film opens during a rushed morning for Maya, while her daughter Dia too heads out for her exam. On the table, a biology textbook lies on the sidelines as Dia sketches into her notebook. 

The tone of the film immediately establishes a mother-daughter equation marked by love and affection. Though this sentiment comes to define the entirety of the relationship unfolding before us, a crisis arises in the form of a crucial disagreement between the two characters. A debate on the larger idea of being an artist versus following a more pragmatic career path, like that of becoming a doctor, and especially what it means for a first-generation immigrant family, further positions itself within the plot. 

The characters bring to life notable performances that are defined by their easy chemistry. The entirety of the storytelling takes place within the confines of a single house, using it to the fullest to evoke a sense of intimacy. The viewer is eventually left with an uplifting story, alongside a reminder about the importance of honest and well-meaning communication.

Butterscotch | Short Film Nominee

It is interesting to watch different ways in which humor can be employed to talk about a topic that is far from laughter and cheer in its gravity. The short film, concise and to the point, is an endeavor in the same vein. Three friends sit together playing a video game, an object that remains an influence in the treatment of the story itself, invoking a visual and audio atmosphere marked by its graphic novel-esque feel, about to develop into a full-fledged realm of a video game. When one of them mentions calling his father, a narrative begins to unfold which is deliberately ridiculous, absurd, and thereby, all the more significant in the communication of its message. The reality of having a loving parent is unachievable to the point of being only a matter of mocking exchanges between the remaining two characters. The only character in this situation who has experienced responsible parenting and stability in his domestic space, primarily from his father, has now attained the status of a unicorn, mythical and far from any possibility of existence. At the same time, his other friends have devolved into a state of near-delirium, unable to reconcile their shock, laughter and the deep-seated sadness. The film is a dedicated attempt to portray it all, along with ensuring it does not become didactic or overbearing. The lighthearted tone is maintained throughout, allowing itself to share its story in a cheery, entertaining manner.

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