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First, the Recap:
To adapt and move forward. It is one of the hardest concepts to grasp when we find ourselves in a fresh but intimidating situation. Coming into unfamiliar territory, surrounded by those we don’t yet know or relate to, yet trying to put our best foot forward in hopes of blending in. Yes, how exactly do we face such a challenge, especially as a kid? For Sharda Joshi (Anshikaa Shrivastava), the first day in class at her new English Medium school is anything but fun to start. Introducing herself in highly broken English, Sharda immediately comes under the scrutiny of an ornery classmate named Vivaan (Rohan Shah), despite the teacher, Miss Ananya (Natasha Singh), giving him stern warning.
However, thanks to fellow student Hridhaan (Rohit Saraf), Sharda slowly becomes integrated into a new circle of friends, much to her delight and that of her father, Ravi (Sandeep Kulkarni). Still, as the obstacles associated with learning English and attempting to continue to fit in rise up, a new opportunity is offered that Sharda volunteers herself and Hridhaan for, much to his consternation. Leading to an emotionally brutal encounter while hanging out with the group, Sharda sees her excitement and hopes dashed. Yet, thanks to timely encouragement from her father, Sharda finds herself willing to take a stand for what goals she has and her ability to accomplish them, teaching others a lesson in humility while illustrating the power of forgiveness.
Next, my Mind:
As a key part of this year’s Educational Programming featured during DFW SAFF 2018, writer/director Vicky Barmecha’s 24-minute short film paints an ultimately uplifting and very realistic picture of the basic trials of teenage years, facing your insecurities, persevering under imperfect circumstances, leaving the past in the past, having a willingness to absolve others, and learning to roll with inevitable changes or otherwise experience stagnation and frustration. It’s the beauty of this film that it goes into such depths of character and concepts, able to deliver a final product that entertains, teaches, encourages, and promotes further thought not just about today’s youth and ideas about class and societal struggles, but frankly the entire notion of how we relate to each other as human beings, often so quick to make fun of or judge people’s shortcomings while not seeing our own. Yet, out of it all, there can come the equal beauty of reconciliation and understanding that paves the way for brighter futures, hopes, and friendships that could potentially change the world, and this reviewer felt that message was very much the undercurrent here as the film’s wonderfully executed finale came about. This is a statement about education, but also about humanity.
Shrivastava delivers a charming, believable, and poignantly affecting performance in her role as Sharda, a smart young girl who finds herself thrust into a brand new English Medium school and more so into a new world of students who not only speak fluent English, but hail from upper class homes as opposed to her more middle class upbringing. Still striving to find her place, Sharda encounters all the pitfalls, frustrations, and misunderstandings associated with being the “new kid on the block” while making every attempt to overcome it all and make her mark. Watching Sharda revel in joy, navigate overt pain and disappointment as well, then come out the other side stronger for it is inspiring and sends a necessary message in this day and age, all of which is wonderfully enacted and portrayed by Shrivastava.
Saraf also shines in his role as Hridhaan, a slick-talking but totally affable young boy who becomes one of the first to extend a hand of friendship to Sharda, allowing her to develop a circle of new friends amongst his at the school. He advocates for her, even defends her to a certain extent, though ends up showing his own inner faults through a deeply hurtful exchange that threatens his entire standing in Sharda’s eyes. Yet, watching as they both work through it is genuine, with the final result of it all perfect for the film’s message, and Saraf is excellent throughout. Shah executes his role as Vivaan with flying colors as well, presenting a carefree, very self-assured boy who is quick to poke fun at others, yet is most likely doing so to hide his own shallowness and faults, a truth he gets called out on later in the film. Shah embodies the character so well, you can both love and hate Vivaan. Well done effort.
Additional supporting turns arrive here from Singh as the group’s classroom teacher Ananya, who tries her level best to keep class in order while advising Sharda in the challenges she’s facing, Kulkarni as Sharda’s father Ravi, whose unwavering support and love for his daughter becomes a key element in her confidence being maintained and/or restored in the face of adversity, along with Aisha Ahmed and Muskkaan Jafri as fellow classmates and friends of the boys and Sharda. In total, with its needed messages about education, interpersonal relationships, aiming for achievement, defeating negativity, and standing up for yourself, “Medium” stands as another magnificently orchestrated short film effort that more than deserves to be seen by everyone, young and old alike, and that will ideally become some form of catalyst for change within our schools, the educational system, and most importantly, our very lives in this constantly evolving and volatile world.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
