Movie: A Cry in The Dark
“Of all my father’s teachings, the most enduring was the one about the true measure of a man. That true measure was how well he provided for his children, and it stuck with me as if it were etched in my brain.” – Sidney Poitier
“A Cry in the Dark” essentially deals with a young man who is trying his best to earn the respect and love of his father.
The father-son dynamics have always been explored widely in every form of creativity. The connection and bond between the duo often shapes how the youngling would look at this world, and how he would create his own trajectory. While in some cases the father-son duo provide a healthy hearty connection,but, in most cases, they pose a conflict that pushes the plot forward.
Written and directed by Rites herself, the movie revolves deeply around the main characters Trix and his father. As a child Trix has always craved for his father’s attention and approval. The film shows the role a father plays in his child’s life and how every action of the father influences the child’s steps. Trix gets involved into a murky world at the delicate age of eight only to impress his father. His life and his ways get entangled in blood and gore after he joined a gang in Detroit and earned his reputation as a fighter and most importantly, a con. The movie brings out the bitterness of lives and throws focus on the shifting dynamics of the relationships around us. The absence of a father figure in one’s life creates a deep seated trauma and this film highlights how tough the struggle sometimes becomes.
Apart from the gradual progression of the story, the film stands out more vividly for its colour palette and cinematography. The dominance of the colour blue in each frame brings out the hollowness of the characters’ existence. Each and every frame stands out on its merit. Rhabi skillfully explores the interpersonal relationship between the father-son duo and helps strengthen the plotline. The son has been left with a scar since childhood – the absence of the father figure in his life has made him go ashtray and here the director shows how certain steps taken by the parents disrupt the lives of their offspring. Trix’s own trauma made him what he is today – he is merely a shadow of his father, his ideal, his ultimate goal. Trix tries to fill the void of a father in his life by literally becoming just an extension of his father, and this is such an ironic part of their story.
The film has an ensemble cast and each character plays a crucial role in the development of the film. They have done a great job in bringing out the characters and their personal struggle. The film is produced by Johnny Louis Watson. The entire film is elevated by their performance. Needless to say, but the acting, doubled with the brilliant direction and cinematography, makes the movie a great watch.
The film is an earnest attempt and an ode to the relationship between the father and son all across the world, it is a reminder how the abandonment issues creeps into the mind of a child and slowly destroys their being. The director has done a commendable job to portray the film in its glory.
