If we take a look at the landscape of a certain region, it is always revealing to notice how much of the identity of its people is contained in its design. In particular, the Asian landscape, as photographed in independent and blockbuster movies, shows the huge variety of its people, its diversity in geography and culture. However, the information it reveals also deals with matters like isolation, prejudices and superstition, even generational conflicts which is a theme filmmaker Siddarth Chauhan explores in his 2019 short feature “The Flying Trunk”.
“The Flying Trunk” is screening at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
The story of “The Flying Trunk” takes place in a remote village populated only by a handful of people. During the harvesting season, a young boy (Arush Sharma) discovers an old trunk in the attic of an abandoned house. While his mother (Divya Saagar) is busy in the fields, his grandmother (Zunchi Devi) tells her grandson about the mystery behind the trunk which belonged to her husband and was able to fly. As the boy's mother hears about this, she has an argument with her mother, showing her disapproval of the story, but despite this, her son still wants to find out whether the story has some truth to it.
Considering he invites his audiences to explore the thin red line between mystery and reality, it is quite astonishing the way this contrast can be seen in the images captured by the camera. On many occasions, the camera shows the breathtaking beauty of the village, the colors and nature, while the mountains in the background also emphasize the kind of isolation of this valley. There is clearly something mystical about the setting of Chauhan's film, something almost surreal, making the idea of the flying trunk somewhat believable.
Interestingly, especially though the opposition of the two female figures in his film, Chauhan also highlights the chasm of reality and fiction. At the same time, both approaches remain somewhat restrictive, since the boy's mother and his grandmother talk about borders, how the trunk is only able to take you to the mountains and not further, for example. On the other hand, his mother is quite adamant in keeping her son to herself, within the manageable borders of the valley, with the concept of fiction possibly constituting a threat. In the end, fiction, or rather the borders of one's imagination may change as one decides to explore further, possibly with the help of a flying trunk.
Finally, “The Flying Trunk” is an interesting short feature whose beautiful cinematography and subtle approach to its themes will certainly find admiring audiences. There is something magical about this short film, something you will keep in your mind and want to explore further, just like the boy in the film.
