The notions pertaining to sin, guilt, temptation and punishment often operate within absolutes to the extent of leaving no space for the possibility of redemption. The neatly defined categories of black and white, completely devoid of even a suggestion of greyness, comes to shape and mould institutions like religion and, in turn, their relationship with sexuality and other bodily desires. The short film is an attempt to engage with the same thematic concerns, employing visuals that employ biblical and medieval motifs and imagery. 

 The final result, in the process, becomes not an attack against a particular religion, but instead remains a piece of work that compels the viewer to toy with a reality that extends beyond these monolithic structures, whichever form they may have acquired in their own individual lives. The poetry of the visuals is significant for its otherworldliness as well as the surreal darkness it invokes on screen. 

 The tone, approach and treatment of the many ideas that rest within the folds of In the Dark make it a uniquely notable film to watch, leaving the viewer with the welcome prospect of more such projects by the team.

In the Dark | Short Film Nominee

The film invokes an engagement with several concerns pertaining to human existence. From divisions that humankind has managed to breed within on the lines of differing ideologies of colour and creed, to what seems like an internal conflict with the self that will perhaps never be resolved - the narrative portrays them all. The interplay of these ideas is achieved against the hinterland of some of the most iconic texts by William Shakespeare that include Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, Julius Caesar and As You Like It. 

The film exhibits a sincerity of effort and thought, achieved and executed by its ensemble cast, with each member attempting to employ their limited resources to full efficiency. In terms of writing, however, the script comes across as something written more for the textual medium, involving reading, as opposed to visual content. Adapting a script for the screen with this concern in mind would lead the team to realise their potential better in their future projects.

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