In Retreat

Maisam Ali’s debut feature film, In Retreat (2024), made in Ladakhi and Hindi, had its world premiere at the prestigious 77th Cannes International Film Festival in the ACID Cannes sidebar programme. It is now all set to have its Asian premiere at the 29th Busan International Film Festival, which is being held currently. Ali’s gentle direction transforms what could have been a simple short film into a powerful and meditative reflection of  the microscopic intricacies of life that we often overlook.

The film, about 75 minutes in length, follows an unnamed middle-aged man (Harish Khanna), who returns to his hometown in Ladakh because his brother has died. Unfortunately, he misses the funeral and is unable to muster the strength to visit his family members. He goes to a restaurant for a bowl of soup, and as the sun sets, he wanders through the town. Throughout the night, he aimlessly wanders and comes across a group of people attending a wedding, a young woman walking the streets and a group of young men involved in a brawl. By the film’s end, we realize that we are left with little more than collective memories of human connection.

In Retreat confronts life’s surprises, both devastating and precious, unfolding like a patient, languid and pensive journey without ever feeling mawkish or sentimental. The man’s journey becomes a physical as well as emotional one and with every encounter he has, Ali builds a layer of a nuanced and subtle narrative, probing a nightscape that is full of loneliness and isolation. The empty streets at that mysterious time of night when nothing much seems to be happening, allow us to appreciate and take in the space for all its architectural beauty and peculiar noises instead of being rushed past it on the way to something else. The mundane details of the small town become essential to the protagonist’s life even if he fails to notice them while his odyssey reflects the reality that life is often unpredictable with no definitive conclusions.

The film also captures the complexity of relations and the difficulty we have in staying connected. When the man eats from his bowl of soup and tries to talk to the woman sitting there, she is not that interested in carrying it any further because she has to close the shop before dusk sets in. He unwillingly accompanies some celebrants to a ritual only to be insulted by one of the elder family members. Though these meetings might be brief and appear trivial, all of the moments gradually become quiet reflections on the estrangement of human beings, solitude and the unspoken ties we carry with ourselves in our lives. The references of verses of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish in his poem, If I Were Another, also bring an intense level of poignancy that further reflects upon themes of alienation, longing for connection, and the will of human beings to comprehend to be at least be understood by others.

Harish Khanna brings a quietly enchanting and delicate beauty to his portrayal of a man in search of meaning and reconnection amidst personal loss and emotional isolation. He ably carries the film on his shoulders. The non-professional supporting cast delivers fine, organic performances that enhance the film’s verisimilitude.

The cinematography by Ashok Meena carries a low-key but poetic gaze, beautifully capturing the serene mood of a Himalayan town. The film’s scenes are carefully composed with a sense of stillness, yet they brim with life. Ali, who has co-edited the film with Raghavender Vuppuganti, allows us to linger in a tale of pain and longing, highlighting the fragmented nature of the protagonist’s relationships with those he encounters over the course of a single day in his life. The sound design by Rahul Tiwari is restrained and balanced, offering a detailed meditation on the connections we form in an overstimulated world while evoking a vision of a place far removed from the chaos of everyday life.

In Retreat offers a distinctive perspective from a young filmmaker on the importance of giving voice to the rich tapestry of emotions, relationships, and challenges that define modern life. It will be exciting to see how Ali continues illuminating these stories in his future projects.

Hindi, Ladakhi, Drama, Color