Short Film Review “Reverse” An unyielding, unapologetic, and exceptionally original dive into the anatomy of violence, hypocrisy, and the desperate need for change
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
Violence. Intent to harm others. Targeted victims whose cries are many, yet so tragically often go unheard or unheeded….until it’s too late. To even consider those who perpetrate ANY form of harm towards ANY person or group is difficult enough to comprehend or stomach, acts so vile that it defies belief. It becomes even more unpalatable when the violence in question is specifically aimed at women, an ongoing issue that is most certainly in desperate need of simply being STOPPED.
There is a time of year, and only ONE example in a more all-encompassing context (this is important to acknowledge), where the empowerment of women is celebrated in India through a 5-day recognition and worship of Goddess Durga, the divine female goddess who conquers ALL evil. Even as clay figures that represent Goddess Durga are fashioned, displayed, and heralded as the bringer of deliverance, the actuality of what is still occurring suddenly shines a light, showcasing a tapestry of hypocrisy, that contradicts ALL this celebration, along with the grander aims to revere women beyond it, is meant to find its meaning in. Women suffering the unspeakable horrors of abuse….and worse….with NO justice in sight.
Next, my Mind:
Unflinchingly daring as it is an artistic stroke of genius, bluntly raw as it is necessary, persuasive, and compelling, uncompromisingly provocative in addressing its subject matter as it is unavoidably heart-wrenching and shocking, all while being brilliantly conceived and executed in a manner that firmly cements its core purpose squarely into your mind with searing intensity. This declaration more than assuredly describes the sheer emotive force of nature boiling under and on the surface through this new, multi-award winning 5-minute (yes, you read that correctly, FIVE MINUTE) South Asian indie short film from writer/director/animator Kaust
What are meant to BE celebrations that commemorate ultimate triumph over evil (in this case, as the focus is on the feminine power Goddess Durga represents) and hence empowerment of women, the narrative here is not only conveyed in the precise manner the film’s title indicates, but in doing so, it paints a portrait, yes, of worship and desire to see women lifted up, but then a completely opposite and dark truth occurring that belies this appreciation of women and their power, instead uncovering the reality of premeditated rape, murder, and the absence of morality, principal, or any form of justice for these actions that women are experiencing, with nothing stopping it from happening. It’s a jarring actuality, a stark and disquieting contrast, that none of us WANT to acknowledge would exist at all, much less to the magnitude it does, but the statistics (seen during the finale moments of this film, incidentally, based on a 2022 crime report) are just plain brutal in their facts, definitively forming a SERIOUS and NEEDED scream for change and total CESSATION of such atrocities. Period.
The absolutely unique approach that Mukherjee and Co. chose to put this concept covering the relentless and, as of yet, unmitigated violence towards women is creativity at its finest actually, utilizing HAND-DRAWN animation (no AI or CGI here, folks!) as its foundational visual facet and then delivering the narrative itself “Momento” style, which honestly feels like it elicits a stronger air of authenticity, purpose, and awards-raising potency. Additionally, what I also feel makes this direction even more captivating is the notion that these cycles of disturbing menace are, so grievously, a TREND that one million percent requires REVERSAL in order to see it prevented and negotiated with the significance and justice it warrants, and the film excels in showcasing this in only five minutes of runtime. Believe me, this STICKS with you!! The imagery, again via animated sequences, is visceral and somber, as is apropos to the narrative’s theme, and this dire atmosphere is further fueled by the accompanying ominous and foreboding music score that serves to enhance the edgy, admittedly uncomfortable tone that dominates the events we witness.
It doesn’t take, per se, any prototypically “defined” images but rather a wholly intentional mix of briefly seen moments morphing in and out of focus as the film progresses, almost all veiled in shadow and black/gray color schemes that so overtly befit the film’s objectives and what it wishes to represent. It really is unnerving on so many levels, an exposing of the way in which so many of these women’s shrill cries are buried beneath a veneer of the supposed acknowledgement of their value, strength, and vitality. Therefore, we just cannot dismiss or push aside the relevance and necessity of this project, for when something like these forms of violence GET ignored or, dare we say, forgotten, it only perpetuates the ongoing, building presence of it, unabated and legion. This is NOT acceptable, it isn’t even HUMAN what happens to the victims, and the outcry it evokes should shake the heavens themselves. If we don’t take action and do what it requires to protect our women from such violations, much less BEFORE the LOSS OF THEIR LIVES in some instances, then what hope do we have to SEE it cease??!!
Unlike so many of the films this critic reviews, here we have an effort that doesn’t employ any actors to bring its narrative and themes to life. It is truly a visual and music-driven experience, which for me is a excellent example of what independent cinema does so adeptly and with a deeply impassioned soul that can SPEAK volumes without a single word BEING said and the animation so deftly portraying the requisite narrative renderings. Now, the film does also rely on traditional Goddess Durga mantra chanting and drums as provided by Sanchayan Chakraborty and Amal Datta respectively, in addition to composer Sudeip Ghosh’s score, which in tandem efficiently and effectively lend themselves to the proceedings with emotive and haunting, eerie urgency. As viewers, we need to realize that one of the biggest takeaways from the tense and unsettling journey this film takes us on is the straightforward fact that we have desire to see evil destroyed, claim to honor this, yet our Durgas get claimed by it. It’s a paradox that must be seen, and change initiated. NOW. Let our Durgas BE Durgas, and may we have the passion to truly see evil dispelled.
So, in total, “Reverse” is an explicitly acute exercise in grounded and deliberately startling storytelling that unmasks totally well-intentioned celebrations being marred by a horrific reality that MUST be confronted, conquered, and permanently averted. We wish to show women due respect and worth, allow their capabilities to arise and shine, to worship and recognize ALL their aspects they represent with them? Awesome. Let’s keep them SAFE and SECURE FIRST, THEN do what this film more than stridently wants to communicate…..REVERSE the trends of violence. Forever.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
