OCEAN OF AN OLD MAN
Another festival glory that fails to us a story
by Vishal Verma
An Enlighten Film Co. Release Through Shringar Films.
Producer/Director/Writer/Editor: Rajesh Shera. Genre: Drama. Target Audience: Festival Goers.
Starring
Tom Alter ... Teacher / Old Man
Jamie Alter ... Young Teacher
Iris Maya Tittelback ... Teacher's Wife
Technical Analysis
A suggestion – read the synopsis before watching this poetic unhurried drama filmed brilliantly in the Andaman Islands by Tapan Vyas. Otherwise u will get tired but will hardly find any clue to the physical and emotional devastation wrought by the 2004 tsunami off the coast of Indonesia which provides the backdrop for this festive glory.
‘Ocean of an Old Man’, Rajesh Shera’s maiden venture as a Director, Writer, Editor, & Producer, was premiered in Pusan and was also shown at the Cairo International Film festival.
Technically, the flick is an earnestly woven from heart material as far as the location setting, acting – Tom Alter is amazing, camerawork- Tapan Vyas does a remarkable lense work, editing- Rajesh Khera is sharp & Art Direction - Rakesh Yadav is commendable.
But this beautiful body lacks a soul. Story is missing & the bemused narration by Rajesh Khera is hallucinating without any proper influence or indulgence. The technical brilliance of the movie has made it possible for the film to run around festivals but its subject matter and oblique narrative will make it difficult to attract any audience of any sort.
The movie gets 2 out of five – one for the performance & one for the excellent cinematography & editing.
The movie losses heavily on writing, & narration.
The Story
An elderly man (Tom Alter) who teaches school in a small Indonesian village takes shelter in a secure bunker when he gets word that a massive storm is on the way, and two weeks later he's back in his classroom. But not all his students were so fortunate, and he's haunted by the memory of five children who disappeared during the tsunami.
The teacher can't shake his belief that the children are still alive somewhere, and sets out to find them; during his search, he's visited by the spirits of his wife and daughter as most of his friends and colleagues leave the island and the reminders of the tragedy.
Promotion
Ocean of an Old Man received its world premiere at the 2008 Pusan International Film Festival & was also shown at the Cairo Festival.
But that will not be sufficient to attract legs to the theatre.
Business Analysis
Rajesh Khera’s maiden venture will struggle even to find art house audience due to its bemused subject matter and oblique narration.
Other Credits
Associate producer: Pinaki Chatterjee. Line producer: Alan McAlex.
Cinematography: Tapan Vyas. Art Direction: Rakesh Yadav. Production Management: Ritila Anar. Sound Designer: Dara Singh. Music: Serge Isen
Media Awareness: Universal Communications. Reviewed at Famous Studios Preview Theatre, Mumbai on May 21, 2009. Running Time: 84 Minutes(Approx).