No Love Lost

A wonderful film that should be seen by all. This year High Falls Film Festival had a really good selection of interesting films by women. My favorite, even though it's only a short, was NO LOVE LOST. Produced by Gemma LLoyd and Helen Silver along with the creative team of brothers Shekhar Bassi and Shalinder Bassi. I am glad that the festival programmers looked beyond the 'films by women' factor and selected No Love Lost on merit. A simple yet powerful story without any dialog that weaves poetically through the lives of three characters in an unexpected love triangle. Performances by Scarlett Brookes, Meena Rayann and Joshua James are strong. The film does not focus on the race and religion subtext but draws into the realm of identity and asks the question whether identity is what you see or what you are? Written by the Bassi Brothers and directed by Shekhar Bassi, the handling of the material is impressive and Shekhar Bassi visualizes his story without judging anybody or telling us what to think. You can see the brilliance of the director's style and sense of cinema. Following from watching this film I managed to read and see more of the filmmaker's work. He certainly exhibits a flare for handling female characters but without stereotyping them. Scarlett Brookes and Meena Rayann are terrific throughout the film and you remain on the edge of your seat. Best Film of the festival that deserves recognition for what it is and the makers of the film.

I am a big fan of films and am enjoying the Omaha Film Festival. Sadly the festival finishes today but I am hoping there will be more good films to see. It's been a mixed bag. My stand-out film of the festival is this short film NO LOVE LOST. I have seen a few films over the years that have no dialog and No Love Lost did it so well. The story is beautiful and powerful. You think it will go in one direction but it takes a few turns because the director makes you stay with each and every character, with each and every moment in the film. I loved the actors and how they portrayed their characters. It's a story about love and differences between people and how our prejudices can dictate us in every little thing. The directing is just awesome and I checked out other work by the director. His film Faux Depart made me go wow too. Love the music on the film. I am keeping my fingers crossed Omaha will give the film the Best Short Film award.

In a nut shell you have to see this film. I am not calling it a short film because it's cinema in 14'46. Saw No Love Lost yesterday on ILoveshortfilms and it caught me off guard. Let me say from the get go, I am a filmmaker and wished it was me who had done this film. Shekhar Bassi directs, also writes with his brother, a nuanced and very visual film dealing with love, hate, race and identity. This all is done in under 15 minutes and it is done with flair, confidence and serious directing talent. Having seen it yesterday I sat back questioning my own story-telling style. I realized I would have been over the top, laboring certain story points, using heavy-handed dialogue or some shitty smart-ass dialogue and finishing the film off with a full on gut punch to satisfy what the audience wants. Shekhar Bassi does none of that and takes the audience on a journey. He subtly questions our preconceptions but doesn't judge his audience. I was surprised how my sympathies shifted and presumed so much and was wrong. It's a beautifully told story with a fresh style and execution. All the actors are on top form. The three central characters are portrayed by talented actors. You really get a sense of the director and editor being in sync and crafting a real cinematic piece. The cinematography is great. The camera is directed with style and there is grace yet tension in everything you see. I loved the use of a proper musical score which really works. Hats off from me to this very talented filmmaker and story-teller. Will be watching out for more from him.

OK, it's good but not great, especially unsatisfying when it's headed to the requisite poignancy. Seemed half-baked and experimental but needed complexity of resolution, sharpness, definition. The conclusion is bland. Just one reviewer's impression, but I would like to commend the filmmaker for providing another representation of a great sociological dysfunction: prejudice. I wish the product taught a stronger, more forceful lesson...a lesson like a kill-shot.

That kind of film who seems wise exploration of each detail of near reality. In the best manner. From religion, love, obsession, courage, need to be yourself, all is presented, in splendid manner, in this short film about a young couple, a loneliness woman, a trip with the subway using great intensity of image and gesture and the inspired end, remembering old fairy tales final. A film who must see. For the beautiful way to show, inadmirable manner, realities of every day in the most seductive and powerful way.