Chuzhi review: A simple, well made short film that’ll keep you guessing until the very end

3/5

Story:

A young man finds himself in a messy situation when he loses Rs.100,000 in a game of online betting. It is the money his father gave him for any emergency. He then happens to come across a bag left behind by a stranger. He realises that whatever is inside is worth just the sum he needs, provided that the bag is delivered to a designated spot. Desperate to get his hands on the money, he makes an unwise decision.

Review:

Short films are a tricky one to get right. Just by virtue of its length, it offers little to no wiggle room when it comes to getting to the point of the tale and doing so in a way that doesn't compromise on the integrity of the storytelling is a daunting task indeed. Chuzhi, however, manages to deliver an engaging and entertaining story in 20 minutes that checks all those boxes.

The film opens with a young man scrambling in a hurry and as the film progresses viewers see the exact reason for his hasty sprint. The man makes the ill-advised decision of using the money his father had given him for an emergency in an online betting game, losing the entire Rs.100,000 sum in the process. As he becomes increasingly desperate to earn it back before his family finds out he is accorded an unexpected salvation in the form of a bag left behind by a stranger. He realises that by delivering the bag and its shady contents to a stipulated place, he stands to earn a hefty sum and decides to do just that, fully aware of the moral grey area of his actions. What he does not account for is that the bag’s real owner is hot on his trail, desperate to get back his precious cargo.

The short film takes the simple enough premise that milks it for all its worth to give off a fast-paced and engrossing story. Not a single moment of lethargy figures in its storytelling without being weighed down by any unnecessary exposition, with each moment keeping the audience guessing as to what might happen next. The film also ends on a rather amusing note, simple and uncomplicated maybe but one that entertains nonetheless.

The film also has a lot of other factors going for it in addition to the storytelling. The actors give believable and authentic portrayals of their characters and credit is also due to the way the film is shot; its cinematography equal parts subtle and equal parts alluring. It also manages to capture the hues and shades of a world that goes on bustling no matter what our young misguided protagonist has to go through.

Verdict:

Chuzhi, available on YouTube, is a well-made short film, with a straightforward premise executed well. It also has good performances, scarce in many short films, and makes for an engaging watch.