Shadows of Time

One of the more impressive debuts to emerge in a while, Shadows of Time tells an epic story simply and efficiently – allowing the audience to focus on the characters rather than the spectacle. We meet two children named Ravi and Masha who have been sold into India’s labor workforce, and follow their lives as they grow up. The two make a promise early on to reunite once they are adults, a plan that turns out to be fought with complications. Director Florian Gallenberger’s ease behind the camera is evident right from the film’s opening frames, and the first-time filmmaker does a wonderful job of imbuing this tale with a distinct sense of style. But more than that, Shadows of Time presents us with two characters that become increasingly intriguing as the movie progresses; we’re actually rooting for the pair to find each other and live happily ever after, despite the overwhelming odds. It doesn’t hurt that the actors playing the adult versions of these characters, Prashant Narayanan and Tannishtha Chatterjee, have genuine chemistry with each other. It’s interesting to note that the film often feels like a Hollywood epic, something that might turn off the art house crowd. And though Shadows of Time does go on a little bit longer than necessary – Gallenberger’s screenplay occasionally seems to be trying a little too hard to keep Ravi and Masha apart – that’s a small complaint for a film that’s as effective as this.

***1/2 out of ****