Turtle Island

We loved this film. So well made and with a positive message. Tight storytelling keep you glued to the screen start to finish. As a first venture, Orko really surprised us - wanting more in future.

A movie worth watching, a story that sheds light on multiple issues of society, it beautifully captures a lot of emotions of humanity, innocence, parenthood, evil of society, patriotism, faith and Love. Orko in his directorial debut has chosen some harsh realities of human society which is commendable, loved the research and attention to detail in the movie, to show its a movie shot in late 80's to 90's,.deserves a thumbs up! Naiveness of teenage being in love or be it the emotion of a strong believer in culture and tradition and having faith in fables, actors portray it nicely. Background score or the music in the movie is soulful. Orko in his first venture leaves a scope for viewers imagination and also wanting for more, If to be summarized its thought provoking movie where the essence is still love and faith.

Loved this film. A powerful story that weaves together so many different themes and messages, which are so timely for today. After seeing it I immediately wanted to see it again to try to catch what I might not have picked up on the first time around. A moving film that leaves you thinking and feeling.

Some works establish my very old belief - budgets do not matter, content and narration matter. Turtle Island - a slow & intense drama by Orko Mukherjee is the directorial graduation of an Indian origin young boy, who keeps dreaming and surprising the audience. I will not put any spoiler here, but Lani, Hannah and all other actors worked quite good. Videography, screenplay, sound - all are soothing. Keep it up Orko! Your best one is yet to come!

This short film merely scratches the surface on multiple much deeper topics/issues (exploitation, power, war/peace and respect, and hope) that continue to occur in the present despite its depiction of a timestamp of the past. The exploitation of a (young girl) ignorant and naïve by falsely presenting tales (adulthood and defiance, love and happiness, and opportunity), which we have recently seen on the news raiding establishments for suspicion of human trafficking activities in which the naïve are promised great opportunities only to land in a situation where they succumb to their oppressors. The weak (native American fighting for her land) find themselves fighting for what is rightfully theirs, battling forces that they cannot overpower (not to spoil what is in the movie) but easily described in recent event where the native Americans battle the government over an oil pipeline that could destroy their pristine stream at any given moment of mis-operation. The dialogue describing the wars of the past and the present, their intentions for the wars and the ability to make peace upon reaching a resolution, while in the present, without elaboration we are perfectly aware of the unrest and injustice lacking reason and respect and merely based on a prejudice that lives within. At last, despite all the gruesome events we are brought back to normalcy by presenting hope in the end. I hope the author/director finds his way deeper into each of the presented topics with more great movies to watch.