Schatten der Zeit

"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!

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.

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.

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