The Boat (2023)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

Dhuckia (Tejuswee Ram Dahal) is showing early signs of leprosy, and her father must make a heartbreaking decision. With an impossible choice in front of him, can Raoul (Shree Ram Dahal) do what’s best for him and his family. 

Subtlety can sometimes be the key to success in a film, allowing viewers to search for the hidden meaning and try to understand the elusive power that exists within a narrative. Sometimes, however, that subtlety can be a film’s undoing, and while I feel that The Boat is a beautifully constructed film, it needed to be more direct in its approach. Leprosy is a disease that I’ve heard of, but really only in religious context. I was unfamiliar with the intricacies of the disease, the signs or symptoms that surround it, or what it could mean for families living in impoverished countries. The fact that The Boat only subtly hints at this disease throughout the majority of its runtime made it challenging for me to follow. 

That’s the issue that I had with The Boat, the only issue–and while it’s of massive importance in the grand scheme of this film, I don’t believe that it flattens the film, as there are so many positives present in this film, that display a level of expertise on the part of Writer-Director Luke Morgan and his team. The aspect of The Boat that stands out the most, that most positively affects this film is the score. 

There’s a brilliant blend of upbeat and somber tones orchestrated by string instruments that create an ebb and flow in the tone of The Boat. A minute or two passes before the score is first introduced, and as it comes in slowly, yet powerfully it reels us into the film. We begin on a high note, where something whimsical fills the screen and we’re introduced to something that combats the opening moments of the film. We are taken back in time by way of the score, transported to a place seemingly void of pain and distress. As the film progresses, the score becomes more somber–becoming heavier along the way. As it transitions with the narrative, viewers are able to better appreciate and understand the sentiments present. The score is powerful; potentially the most important aspect of the film. 

Paired with the powerful score, darkness plays a pivotal role in developing tone and moving the film forward. The Boat takes place during both daytime and nighttime, but the more harrowing and challenging moments occur at night. The score begins to shift tonally around the same time as the darkness begins to permeate the screen. Together they create something harrowing and altogether hard to swallow. Together they create something almost tangible, something that effectively elicits an emotional response from viewers. Again, the score is the shining star of The Boat, but the use of light helps to amplify the best parts of the film. 

The Boat is a relatively simple film, one that uses relatively standard techniques to draw out emotion and drive the narrative forward. However, Morgan and his team do such a spectacular job of perfecting these aspects, that they help to develop a really wonderful, dramatic film. The intricacies of the story were a bit lost on me as a result of me not being terribly familiar with leprosy, but the weight of the narrative holds true regardless. The Boat is a spectacular short film that hits all the right emotional notes, brought to life by a series of masterful individuals. 

Written & Directed by Luke Morgan. 

Starring Tejuswee Ram Dahal, Shree Ram Dahal, Jogeswar Rawat, Prativa Adhikari, Nirisha Pandey, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING