An elderly lonely man, Kuxhol, becomes a prophet when he is gifted with the legendary ‘horse of heaven', which he names Goti (speed). As many come to hear his tales of how Kuxhol met the fabled equine, he earns both enemies and admirers for being blessed with the divine–even if Goti is actually an ass (donkey).
“The Horse From Heaven” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Combining folklore with an absurdist wit, Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap's “A Horse From Heaven” shows the viewer the power of belief and how it can lead to religious fervor. The process of taking a donkey and upholding it to the standards of a divine being, to the point that others begin to attempt to “covet thy neighbor's ass” feeds into the humorous nature of all interactions of Kuxhol and those around him. This alone gives the short film a giddy dose of visual stings as onlooking to the man's absurd story turns from mockery into adoration.
The comedic timing in both delivery, visuals and script is, undeniably, what gives the short such charm. From the bright display and the oddly timed delivery of lines, the production has a mainstream, comedic appeal that is often difficult to land with such skill in a small indie production. It is a wonderfully framed piece of absurdism that shows Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap can transform local lore into a universal comedic concept. Consequently, the details specific to Indian culture still land the punchline, due to the cleverly structured set-up of each line of awkward dialogue and/or gag.
Given the various elements going into making the humor land, it is important to give a nod to Arnab Laha as cinematographer and Pulkit Phillip as editor. Laha knows when to linger on the awkward reactions of his subjects, while Phillip shows skill in understanding when a sharp cut helps elevate the comedy. Furthermore, Atul Pachani gives a convincing performance as Kuxhol, a once hasbeen skyrocketed to fame through his own delusions.
As a fan of both absurdist and darker comedy, “The Horse From Heaven” is one of the more notable comedic shorts I have seen in some time. The production oozes charisma, confidence, and silliness in the perfect mixture to make for an unforgettable watch. If you get a chance to check this one out, you won't be disappointed.
