The Well

  • 115'
  • India
  • 2009
This beautifully shot story, larded with everyday family vicissitudes about saying goodbye to childhood, changes slowly but surely into a moving reflection on loss and death. Sameer (14) feels insecure about the choices he faces. He can swim as well as anyone. He also admires his slightly older cousin Nachiket, even though he needs to use floats in the water. The deep well where the boys often swim adds a symbolic accent to this autobiographically inspired story. Following a mysterious accident, Sameer is suddenly confronted by a major question in life. The time of playing hide and seek without cares has passed.
After his debut Valu (The Wild Bull), which was warmly received in Rotterdam, Umesh Kulkarni also shot The Well in Marathi, the language of one of the largest states of India with Mumbai as its capital. Marathi film has very old roots, but is now overshadowed by Bollywood.


Director
Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
Premiere
European premiere
Country of production
India
Year
2009
Festival Edition
IFFR 2010
Length
115'
Medium
35mm
Original title
Vihir
Language
Marathi
Producer
Ramesh Pulapaka
Production Company
Ab Corp Ltd
Sales
Ab Corp Ltd
Screenplay
Girish Pandurang Kulkarni, Sathi Bave
Cinematography
Sudheer Palsane
Editor
Niraj Voralia
Production Design
Sachin, Ravin, Anita, Donald
Sound Design
Anthony BJ Ruban
Music
Mangesh Dhakade
Cast
Madan Deodhar
Director
Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
Premiere
European premiere
Country of production
India
Year
2009
Festival Edition
IFFR 2010
Length
115'
Medium
35mm
Original title
Vihir
Language
Marathi
Producer
Ramesh Pulapaka
Production Company
Ab Corp Ltd
Sales
Ab Corp Ltd
Screenplay
Girish Pandurang Kulkarni, Sathi Bave
Cinematography
Sudheer Palsane
Editor
Niraj Voralia
Production Design
Sachin, Ravin, Anita, Donald
Sound Design
Anthony BJ Ruban
Music
Mangesh Dhakade
Cast
Madan Deodhar