While you watch this breathtakingly evocative short film, it will be easy to see yourself in it. Those of us who struggle with the everyday maintenance of a relationship, perhaps more so with an individual of the same gender, understand that facing a slice-of-life right-of-passage we know is coming, but we do not want to face it, this elegy is even more prodigious. Particularly difficult for us, as we have no anchor, no cornerstone, to keep the relationship together except the allegiance to one another. That is especially true for the two protagonists in this story. Rohan (Ullas Samrat) is leaving for a yearlong sabbatical, which means leaving his beloved Akshay (Rohit Mehra) alone in India.

We are voyeurs here, watching two men in love trying to say goodbye to each other. Knowing full well that the world is against them. Their present world is not accepting of their relationship. They must part from one another for a full year with each fraught with issues arising that could tear their relationship apart. Fear and love both grasp them at the same time. Wanting and needing to say goodbye but both incapable of doing so where it is meaningful or passionate to both. Yet in a sense they do. We do not understand the language between them. The symbolism of the taps is only for them. All we know is that it means something to them and only for them.

Watching this made me cry and yet at the same time sanguine. I could feel their pain in having to part from one another. The acting in this short film is spectacular. They have such great screen chemistry together and their sincerity as a couple is deeply felt with the agony of having to part one another so palpable. Their anger towards each other is not anger with each other but the result of the overwhelming fear of leaving one another. That terrifying feeling one gets of being alone even if you are facing new and different challenges. One must do it alone. Not to be able to share that with the love of your life leaves you empty and most assuredly sad. Yet their endearing exchange of taps is so intense that it gave me just enough hope that they will beat the odds. Their love for one another is strong enough to survive.

This is simply a brilliant piece of cinematic artistry. It is filled with the senseless innocuous things we do to avoid having to deal with internal pain. But in the end, we feel and see their emptiness. Yet there are just enough whispers of hope to keep their love glowing and alive.

As I stated above, you will see yourself in this poignant film. It is an impassioned mirroring of being.

Rating- 5 out of 5

Streaming on- Lotus Visual Productions YouTube Channel