MAYA – A Short Film Review
Maya is a visually stunning short looking at the lives of three children who escape from a slave trader and find themselves with nowhere to go. The film focuses on the trio as they struggle to survive. This is an extremely impressive and moving film that won’t fail to captivate its audience.
What’s it All About?
Three children, Maya, Bikram and Kancha manage to escape from a slave trader and are left roaming the city of Kathmandu. The trio have no money and can’t get back to the village they come from which leaves them homeless, on the streets and trying to survive.
My Opinion
This was an exceptional piece of short film. I was left pondering this short long after the credits had rolled, I don’t think there is a better recommendation than that! This did have an effect on me. It was so visually pleasing and extremely well executed. From the fast cuts during the opening scene, as they escape from their captivity, to the wide shots of the city and the surrounding mountains, the short is beautifully presented.
Maya was a simple story done to a very high standard. The story was created by Tayo Odesanya and written by Veemsen Lama, who also directed. The story is told extremely well without having to try too hard It is cleverly presented, with the setting being as important to the story as the characters. It doesn’t try to be overly complicated, all the while capturing the stunning landscapes of Kathmandu. The three characters all interact very well, the dialogue between the three is very fun and innocent, despite the desperate setting, managing to a smile on your face as you realize these children have hope no matter what their circumstances.
Veemsen, the director of this short shines with his vision, perfectly presenting it over the course of the 15 minutes. Veemsen manages to find beauty in even the darkest corners of Kathmandu as the children venture through the city and the mountains, working in the brick yard or collecting trash. He has a keen eye for telling a story and has an impressive style of doing it.
Along with the stunning visuals and a simple, yet moving story, we are given something special, something we can all relate to, after all, we were young once. These children have the simplest of dreams but find achieving them as hard as ‘reaching for the stars’. The determination these children show to capture those dreams and put a smile back on Maya’s face is extremely moving.
Notable Performances
Ashmita Tamang plays Maya and is the most moving of the three, I think this is mainly due to how powerful and emotional her character was.
Aakash Malla played Kancha, Maya’s brother. Aakash was fantastic as the over-protective brother and again gave a brilliant performance.
Suraj Tamang played Bikram, the friend of the brother and sister, who has most likely been abducted with the pair. Again Suraj gave a fantastic performance.
Each character presented a unique personality but they had great interactions with one another, finding humor and fun in the worst of circumstances. All three had excellent chemistry. The performances put in by all three only elevated this film.
The Verdict
This was a beautiful short and a pleasure to watch. I would highly recommend this short to anyone who gets the opportunity to see it. This is definitely worthy of all the accolades and recognition it has been receiving on the festival scene. A bright future lies ahead for Veemsen Lama and his team.
Agreed! Arran is such an amazing cinematographer – very talented!
as you say a ‘visually stunning’ film – the cinematographer Arran Green should be mentioned here!