Recently I had the pleasure in viewing most of the Cinema Extreme and Digital Shorts plus programme made in the UK for 2007 and I came across this film Boot Polish within the selection. A hybrid "Bollywood with a hint of European Cinema" Undoubtedly Boot Polish by far stood out as the most individual piece of film-making and clearly the director (Aneel Ahmad)has shown the most potential in making the cross over into his first directorial feature.
I don't want to include spoilers, but there is a great deal to talk about in this particular film.
(On reading other comments) Boot Polish as a film takes a probing look at the internal sentiments without unwarranted and needless dialogue. True, the plot is simple but in the end this is the advantage, and I agree that somehow the lives of these people in a foreign and separate world far away, makes you take a look at your own.
I also believe that Ahmad has shown tremendous steps in trying to go beyond the usual cinematic portrayals of South Asian characters in films made by European filmmakers. He tries to show a mixture of film gloss & humanity for the people who have so many times been observed as inhuman and hard-hearted, and the intricacy of this story roams affectionately in the cavernous atmosphere of Pakistan.
Boot Polish clearly shows parallels to European cinema achieved in the 50's, and Ahmad undoubtedly knows that his direct audience would be the countless South Asians who enjoy Bollywood around the world.
He has also shown incredible confidence, skill and flamboyance in firstly having the audacity in attempting to make a film abroad that undoubtedly required sizable funds, yet the film appears far expensive than its budget. While his counterparts clearly stuck to the safe realism's of British social life.
Boot Polish is a film that doesn't ask for forgiveness for it's deficiency of movement but actually beams in it's own self-reflection. Its cleverly crafted and you can tell the entire production team had put tremendous effort in trying to create a film specifically for Cinema.
Ahmad has shown clever plot devices with his character selection and I totally agree with most of the commentary relating to the performance of the Boy. By far he undoubtedly stood out, and as a none professional actor, Ahmad has shaped wonders in bringing the best out of his young prodigy. (On reading the North West Vision site all the actors were none professionals) Personally the character that interested me the most was the 'faceless man" For me this was what made Boot Polish a well thought out and unique story. The idea for an encircled film that connected all the characters really was interesting.
However Boot Polish has its problems like any short film. It really needed to be longer and perhaps this would of given the film the dimensions it needed to focus on the characters. And now more than ever, the director needs to work with professional actors to bring out the best in his vision. But as an artistic piece of film-making Boot Polish clearly shows what the new generation of filmmakers can accomplish when faced with the challenge.
Short film-making is about providing the director the freedom to put across their true talent and to be diverse. British Shorts have clearly improved enormously within the past 5 years, and Ahmad has genuinely taken short film-making to epic proportions. We should look at the positives and encourage our British filmmakers to be more creative, original and audacious! It will take a bit of doing to knock this young man of his perch and I am optimistic that we will see this young man picking up a variety of awards in years to come and I also agree Boot Polish is the must see film within the UK FILM FESTIVAL CIRCUIT.
I don't want to include spoilers, but there is a great deal to talk about in this particular film.
(On reading other comments) Boot Polish as a film takes a probing look at the internal sentiments without unwarranted and needless dialogue. True, the plot is simple but in the end this is the advantage, and I agree that somehow the lives of these people in a foreign and separate world far away, makes you take a look at your own.
I also believe that Ahmad has shown tremendous steps in trying to go beyond the usual cinematic portrayals of South Asian characters in films made by European filmmakers. He tries to show a mixture of film gloss & humanity for the people who have so many times been observed as inhuman and hard-hearted, and the intricacy of this story roams affectionately in the cavernous atmosphere of Pakistan.
Boot Polish clearly shows parallels to European cinema achieved in the 50's, and Ahmad undoubtedly knows that his direct audience would be the countless South Asians who enjoy Bollywood around the world.
He has also shown incredible confidence, skill and flamboyance in firstly having the audacity in attempting to make a film abroad that undoubtedly required sizable funds, yet the film appears far expensive than its budget. While his counterparts clearly stuck to the safe realism's of British social life.
Boot Polish is a film that doesn't ask for forgiveness for it's deficiency of movement but actually beams in it's own self-reflection. Its cleverly crafted and you can tell the entire production team had put tremendous effort in trying to create a film specifically for Cinema.
Ahmad has shown clever plot devices with his character selection and I totally agree with most of the commentary relating to the performance of the Boy. By far he undoubtedly stood out, and as a none professional actor, Ahmad has shaped wonders in bringing the best out of his young prodigy. (On reading the North West Vision site all the actors were none professionals) Personally the character that interested me the most was the 'faceless man" For me this was what made Boot Polish a well thought out and unique story. The idea for an encircled film that connected all the characters really was interesting.
However Boot Polish has its problems like any short film. It really needed to be longer and perhaps this would of given the film the dimensions it needed to focus on the characters. And now more than ever, the director needs to work with professional actors to bring out the best in his vision. But as an artistic piece of film-making Boot Polish clearly shows what the new generation of filmmakers can accomplish when faced with the challenge.
Short film-making is about providing the director the freedom to put across their true talent and to be diverse. British Shorts have clearly improved enormously within the past 5 years, and Ahmad has genuinely taken short film-making to epic proportions. We should look at the positives and encourage our British filmmakers to be more creative, original and audacious! It will take a bit of doing to knock this young man of his perch and I am optimistic that we will see this young man picking up a variety of awards in years to come and I also agree Boot Polish is the must see film within the UK FILM FESTIVAL CIRCUIT.
