ADFF 2011 Review: Sea Shadow

Coming of age dramas are aplenty in Hollywood, but it’s such a universal concept that a new spin or setting to it makes it fresh once again. And after the success of ‘City of Life’, all eyes are on Nawaf Al-Janahi and Image Nation Abu Dhabi for the second major Emarati feature film in the region. And thankfully, ‘Sea Shadow’ is a beautifully shot and well-written coming-of-age drama that brings out the rural community aspect of the region to light and is a two-for-two for the Emarati film industry.

Set in an Emirati seaside neighborhood in Ras Al Khaimah, the film follows two 16-year old best friends Mansoor and Sultan. Mansoor likes Kalthoum who’s from a richer family, but the shackles of tradition and culture in the society doesn’t let him express it to her straight away. As he begins to figure out how to portray his affection with advice from Sultan, a number of shake-ups in the community sends them on a journey of self-discovery.

While ‘City of Life’ was more about the metropolitian life in the region (and a very good one at that), ‘Sea Shadow’ takes  a different approach and decides to be a much more personal film about the rural village side of the region which makes it a fresh story to tell. Though there are a number of supporting characters, the story is primarily about the journey of Mansoor and how he handles his love for Kalthoum like an introvert but also forms a crush on someone else. The setting of the film works very well to its advantage, and it’s the first time someone sees a character in UAE that actually doesn’t know about Virgin Megastores or is alien to Dubai. There’s a genuine authentic quality to the film, which is probably because it’s more in tune with the writer’s upbringing and every scene feels organic to the community it shows and not a work of someone trying to make things up. This vibe is the key in immersing the audience in the setting of the film and ‘Sea Shadow’ more than achieves this.

As far as the screenplay goes, it does have a strong story to tell and despite being a coming of age drama at the core, it has enough new elements to make it a fresh experience. There’s an element of humor and innocence maintained throughout, especially the witty dialogue between the friends. The film never becomes too dark or bleak because it would go against the tone that it’s trying to achieve, but certain dramatic events during the third act of the movie are impactful and effective. The only scene of violence in the film comes at such an emotionally charged moment that the viewer is visibly affected by it. There are some minor flaws, including some cliches and a section in the second half of the film where nothing much is happening and the pace seems to drag. Also, a particular character takes a drastic decision towards the end that doesn’t feel organic, and it’s resolved at the last minute by a a little too convenient appearance.

There’s some quality acting here by the young actors in the film, which are particularly restrained and never over-the-top. Especially beautiful is the cinematography and the visual look of the movie, which feels unique and adds a new dimension to the film. Also of note is a very memorable and fitting soundtrack that plays during the beginning and at the ending, and complements the mood of the film greatly.

‘Sea Shadow’ is yet another milestone for Emarati cinema and proves that whether it’s a more independent production or a studio movie like this, there’s plenty of stories to tell. And when it’s as well-scripted and beautifully directed as this one, international audiences are bound to take notice.

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