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First, the Recap:
What we leave behind. Moving forward in life will forever encompass the concept of having to put certain elements that have made up our lives to that point on the back burner. Ideally, it isn’t due to a lack of desire to have said facets remain, but more out of realizing that new focus and fresh obligation may simply not allow these things to be a part of it all anymore. When faced with it, though, putting it away is easier said than done. Newly expectant mother Maya (Pia Shah) finds herself in this dilemma during the baby shower thrown by her friends. For even while all is celebratory with them and her doting husband Jay (Rupak Ginn), the arrival of Maya’s best friend June (Emily C. Chang) dredges up the past accompanied with present hurts.
Next, my Mind:
Authentically grounded, beautifully believable, highly relatable, and a poignant reflection of the perhaps unknown or often unseen, taken-for-granted pressures and internal turmoil faced by new mothers-to-be, this intelligently executed 15-minute short film from director/editor Mahesh Pailoor, writer/producer/actress Pia Shah, and producer Adil Chamakh deftly finds its emotionally stirring core aspects through a narrative portraying one woman forced to face and work out all that she’s having to let go of while striving to maintain her new life ahead. It’s the wonder of films like this that aim to capture the essence of who we are as people, which is so well done here, and why it fit wonderfully into the second Saturday programming of the 2020 ECSA: Escapist Cinema of South Asia online film festival presented by Jingo Media and sister festivals DFW SAFF and NYC SAFF.
Relying on a perfectly apropos, uncomplicated but smoothly shot visual look, the effort comes out right from the start and immerses the viewer into the briskly paced drama with immediate exploration of thematic components that address notions of a new mother’s highly fluctuating emotional state, body image, sudden doubts about everything, while trying to be accepting of encouraging support from her spouse. But, ultimately, it hones in on one particular item that encompasses her current journey–fear. This critic feels it’s how the film chooses to lead its primary character down this slowly but undeniably spiraling path via the backdrop of her baby shower that lends itself so effectively to illustrating this underlying yet definitively foundational cornerstone to the whole story, and by the time the effort’s finale comes about, it places a deeply thought-provoking moral to it all that transcends the tale presented.
Additionally, the film’s ideas about fear being at the heart of so many of life’s new adventures and territories we navigate, there’s the equally prominent idea of letting go of what we used to consider the “norm” while still not wishing to actually leave it alone, missing it even desperately, regardless of our new circumstances. This comes to vibrant and affecting life through the sequences between Maya and her best friend June, with moments between them that speak volumes to the candid reality and blunt honesty found in abiding friendships that last a lifetime. The ways the pair talk out the building frustrations they’ve both held within them is so filled with resounding, heartfelt truth, and whether it’s hard for either of them to take in, it’s necessary and will have that impactful resonance they both need. Again, it speaks to how much we can fill up with envy, anger, resentment, and other upheaval at things we simply need to resolve and find peace with, knowing we DO have support.
Shah absolutely brings about an emotively powerful but not remotely overstated level of vulnerability and emotional approachability (all while legitimately being 8 months pregnant at the time of the shoot!) in her role as Maya, a young mother-to-be who’s experiencing all the phases of physical and emotional upheavals that accompany her state of being while then needing to put on a joyful countenance for the baby shower her friends are throwing for her. Taking comfort from her husband, she soldiers through it but ends up having the most significant moments with her oldest and best friend June, who attends the shower but has reservations and hurts that need to come out. Maya’s choice to talk it out with June brings them both to a place of needed, healing understanding, and Shah’s presentation of her character’s inner war is both fiery and heartwarming, a credit to the actress’ talent and wholly believable manner.
Primary supporting turns come from Chang as Maya’s oldest friend June, whose body language and hesitant demeanor when she arrives at the shower becomes the instant indicator she’s come bearing “baggage” that needs unloaded. Feeling ostracized while at the event itself, with only a brief interaction with Jay to show for her being there, the deeper, more meaningful conversation with Maya comes later, and is both a sounding board and a release that June needs to know her best friend is still just that, even if life is indeed moving forward differently for them both. It’s a wonderful performance for Chang and like Shah, wonderfully believable. Ginn portrays Jay, Maya’s devoted and caring husband who does his level best to ensure it’s evident he is there for Maya one hundred percent, even in the midst of her volatile emotions and somewhat frantic air. Ginn expertly plays the “everyman” with a sincerity and passion I greatly admire, and he’s in fine acting form here as Jay.
In total, “The Shower” calls us to entertain and then truly contemplate the depth of what it means to move forward with our life when changes happen, directions alter, and that which we always used to gravitate towards is suddenly shifted to other avenues. It doesn’t mean we don’t miss, even long for at times, those “old days” and the people we enjoyed them with, but it does challenge us to be open about it with those closest so that we can then find new ground to work, still make it clear friendships are relished, that fears can be conquered, and that when accepting all of this, we can do it with the one most important aspect of it all–without regret.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
