Reflections at 29
From the Archives
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Documentary, 06-Jan-2022
A personal essay film about a man who uprooted his life in India to move to the U.S. in pursuit of making films. “Reflections at 29,” directed by Tanmaya Shekhar, merges old home videos and photos with newly shot footage, narrated by Shekhar himself in vulnerable musings about the status of his ego, career and finances. Life in America has turned into a constant struggle for money and community; he’s broke, his hair is thinning, things aren’t panning out the way he imagined. A trip to an astrologer foresees more instability on the way. Reminiscing about his upbringing in India, life seemed effortless, family and friends were always around — playing cricket, celebrating birthdays, holidays, and such. Now in New York, thousands of miles away from his childhood, Tanmaya is knee deep in questioning his life decisions. It’s a quietly moving self-portrait on aging, assimilation, and individualism. -KA. Directed & Edited by Tanmaya Shekhar. Director of Photography: Pablo Garcia Saldanha. Archival Footage Courtesy the Shekhar Family. Post Sound: Gibran Yusuf. Titles & Poster: Grace Kim. Footage from New Tricks, directed by Sarah Jacobson. Music Licensed From Podington Bear, Broke for Free, Lee Rosevere. House Perched on Hill picture by Cindy Tang.
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