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DAM WALL

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This is a beautiful film in every way. The quality of the cinematography is to be commended as every scene is a picture of its own. The young girl who plays Charcha charms us to no end. I feel as is I could watch her reading the phone book. Her expressions are so charming and yet believable at the same time. Her friend Panya is also delightfully plays as is her father. All the casting is spot on. I commend the filmmaker for her excellent work in making this film. The storyline is so appropriate for today's viewers, with the question of greedy adults trying to take advantage of the simple villagers. But, the film really displays the friendship between the children. I love that the camera angle is even with their eye level, which gives it an authenticity that is rarely seen. Highly recommended for ages 8 to 18. I give this 5 out of 5 stars. You should be aware that the dialogue is in Marathi, with English sub-titles. Reviewed by Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Juror.

Dharan is a story of friendship between a six-year-old urban girl and an eight-year-old rural boy. Inquisitive Charcha travels to a village near Satara in western Maharashtra with her father on his official tour. Her father is a water resources officer who has arrived to inspect a water dam site. They settle in a circuit house. In the hour of load shading at night Charcha walks out of her room in the search of her father - wearing a white nightdress, holding a candle in her hand. She bumps into Panya, a shy rural boy who is a nephew of the caretakers at circuit house. He confuses her for an evil spirit and runs away in fear leaving Charcha mind boggled. Although Panya realizes, she is no ghost by their second encounter, the running away continues. It adds to Charcha's loneliness who's already unable to function without her mother. She breaks down. Panya realizes his mistake. In the guilt of his ignorant behavior, Panya apologizes to her and after some gifts, with lots of persistence - They become friends. Their friendship is flowering in the backdrop of protest existent in the village against the proposed dam. When Panya takes Charcha to his home to show around, his mother learns whose daughter she is. The dam being sanctioned by Charcha's father will put Panya's house and property into the water catchment. This leads to an interpersonal conflict as well as social conflict within them. In their own simple world - How do they solve the problem of this magnitude with their compassion and empathy?