Ladakhβname the place and it paints a picture of serene beautyβbut for director Maisam Ali, it is home and a place to find his roots. In Retreat is a minute-long feature that tells the story of a person who comes back home after a long period of time. So, he is not able to cross the threshold of that house. Maisam describes his treatment of the film as a narrative, encountering various events. The theme is based on his idea of home and questioning what a home could be.
It is personal because it started somewhere in or when I was in FTII, thinking about the premise of my diploma film. I remembered an instance from when I was about 12 or 13 years old. Then what happens? This thus became the premise of his first feature, exploring the story of a man who heads back to his small mountain community in late autumn or early winter.
He then headed to India for studies and finally returned to his home in Ladakh, which Maisam describes as a joyous experience to shoot in his hometown.
There is sadness and vulnerability which attracted me. Our reporters are on the ground in Cannes, France, to bring you exclusive content from the 77th Cannes Film Festival β explore our coverage here. We interviewed Director Maisam Ali, whose debut film, In Retreat , delves into the poignant journey of a man grappling with the complexities of homecoming, weaving a narrative of longing, belonging, and the haunting echoes of lost connections amidst the breathtaking landscape of Ladakh.
Prachi Bari May 23, 2 minutes read. As an on-ground reporter, she covered diverse topicsβcity life, community welfare, environment, education, and film festivals. Her filmmaking journey began with "Between Gods and Demons" Stay in synch with film festivals monthly Subscribe to our mailing list to receive our newsletter! We respect your privacy. Enter your Email address. Related Articles. Check Also. Berlinale Close Search for.
