User reviews

A Bengali movie with English subtitles, directed by a German! It is set in the Jute mills of West Bengal where children used to be employed and exploited. The struggles of an ambitious Ravi, the protagonist, who saves money to get out of the system, how he realizes his ambitions and how he retains his humane nature in spite of his environment, forms the basis for an epic love story.

The acting is brilliant, the portrayal "international", so all adults should enjoy it. The production is highly optimized and gritty.

Some audiences may find it slow, but I thought it was well paced, the subtitles appropriate for people who know both languages.

A very recommended watch! Grab it on DVD if it doesn't come to a theater near you.

I have never in my life seen a movie, as touching and sentimental yet strong and intelligent as this movie. The cast is amazing, the story moving and the result brilliant. A must see. If you like different movies you have to see "Shadows of Time". I'm lost for words, the impression that this movie left on me, will last for a very long time. Congratulations for everyone who took part in creating this masterpiece. There is an unconventional ending to this love story, but I won't say too much, because I wouldn't wanna spoil it. I'm a big fan of Bollywood movies, but "Shadows of Time" is nothing like a colourful and musical Bollywoodmovie and still it's special in its way. And worth the money you'll spend for it.

Director Florian Gallenberger, in his first full length feature film has come up with a true gem of a movie. A heartwarming tragic love story set in Calcutta, India (pre independence). It is a must watch for anyone who hates the popular Indian movie scene (a.k.a Bollywood). The acting and cinematography are brilliant. I disagree with the above reviewer's comments although myself an Indian, the movies mentioned by him are for people who do not appreciate good cinema, please stay away from them as far as possible...it's a Warning. I hope the director gives our very own Indian directors a few lessons in film making so that we don't have to put up with the regular muck (bollywood i.e.) churned out year after year. Watch this one and you will not be disappointed.

"Shadows of Time" is a marvelous film. It takes you through 60 years of the life of its two main characters (Ravi and Masha) and tells the story of their unfulfilled love. The cinematography is outstanding, the acting is great, especially for Indian actors, the sets are so alive and the story telling is of a quality like you don't see it often these days. The film is slow, but in a nice way. You just need to open your heart and go with the story and it will just take you on the most amazing trip. I have seen many Indian films, but "Shadows of Time" is different, it gives you a glimpse of real India (opposed to film India), its colors, its faces, streets and light. The film takes place in Calcutta and it really transports the atmosphere of Calcutta from 40 years back.

Great!

This excellently photographed film gives you a dreamlike atmosphere. two people , who seemed too be destined for each other are followed in their journey trough life.However in this life they are seemingly not mend to be together.thus , basically we follow their quest for each other. the film id entirely shot in India.and the two main characters are Indian.they speak an Indian language. this film gave me one of the greatest coloring i'v ever watched in a movie.sooo overwhelming , that it totally makes up for the somewhat predictable story-line.the other-worldly sequences leave ya mesmerized and glued tot y'r seat ! I am definitely curious towards other work by this young director.

This film is not made by Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen or Aparna.....but a German. But though a non-Bengali, he has caught the typical Calcutta milieu in all its shades. The young laborers of a jute mill become close to each other and their friendship and love ripens into old age. Circumstances and the vagaries of life takes them to face unexpected situations. The film not treated as a melodramatic potpourri, brings out the basic human sentiments and sensibilities in a fine weave of episodes and at times makes you participate in the probing and meandering streets of city of shades and hues.All the characters are true to life and the actors portraying them have brought them out convincingly. Rightly paced and well-timed incidents create a rare experience. Good to watch.

I've watched this movie and i've been moved to tears.

The movie is very over whelming and has some brilliant cinematography and acting.

I would've never been able to tell, if it was made by someone who's NOT Indian, if I hadn't known before hand.

It has some really subtle and powerful acting by Prashant and Tanishta. If it had been an Indian movie, it would've been a sure contender for the Oscars.

Whoever watches it, should be ready to change his mindset and place himself in a different setting - that of where the movie's placed.

I read the review above and thought it was rather pseudo intellectual. It seems more like he/she is lashing out with some personal vengeance to someone! Or maybe he/she reviewed the wrong movie here! ANyway, to each his own! "I" personally loved the movie and I've been recommending it to EVERY single person.

Certainly, a MUST WATCH

this is pretty much what one would expect of a German film shot in India... especially one made by a German director as his first feature.

filled with "third world pathos", bathed in earth tones and warm colours, saturated with patronizing 'noble savage' ideas, the best thing one can say about "schatten der zeit" is that it is often picturesque. at the end of the day, calcutta is a very visually interesting place and juergen juerges a very fine cinematographer. all this is far from enough to save this movie, which is ultimately very offensive...

florian gallenberger is a very wealthy young German "aristocrat" (at least he claims to be) who achieved 'oscar' success with his short film "quiero ser", again set in a poor country and centered on the 'milieu of the miserable' to be found there. he has obviously decided this formula works for him, and decided to write a 'truly Indian' story set in calcutta (a city and country to which he had no connection beforehand). ultimately, people can and should do whatever they want, but I hope audiences don't choose to support such parasitical works with their money or attention... this film was deservedly a critical and commercial failure...

Florian must be thinking he is some sort of genius - but unfortunately he has not even grasped the basics of cinema - all the slickness and imagery cannot hide what is an absolutely regressive and atavistic screenplay.

Thanks to corneau, you are totally right. And to those who think this is a great film, my condolences to you all - you deserve only this much.

I worked on this film for a couple of days in the post-production stage of audio - ADR. I saw the film the night before i started on the work at the studio. I was very angry after seeing this film - but I could not say no to the work - it would have been unprofessional of me to do so at the last minute. I was relieved at the end of the two days of work and was happy to say goodbye to this film and it's maker.

It might draw some tears from some people, but not from me (and there are films that I cry in). It's the kind of tear-jerker that is meant as Oscar-bait.

This is your standard boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds her again. Oh, and of course the boy is good-looking. The girl is beautiful. Because they are moral and hard-working, they do well in life.

Yes, there are poor kids ripped off and abused by unscrupulous adults, but if you didn't already know that, you need to travel more.

I agree with comeau and khajoor; this is "third world pathos".