An elderly man with dementia has to deal with his illness and the everyday dysfunction of his family in Seemonta Halder’s “Chimera”.
Bengali cinema, also known as ‘Tollywood’, is a major powerhouse of the Indian film industry. Where ‘Bollywood’ gives us song, dance, and escapism, ‘Tollywood’ provides the realism, with a rich history of critically acclaimed art films, providing stark social commentary on important social issues. Chimera fits easily into the ‘Tollywood’ category as a powerful drama that, in 15 minutes, descends into a fractured family’s domestic nightmare. A Chimera is a mythical fire-breathing monster and, the more you look into it, the more apt the title becomes as the flames seem to have risen from the remnants of a once-loving family unit that has since been burnt to the ground.
As director and writer Seemonta Halder’s intentions are clear, his film is a call for awareness about mental health in India, particularly among the elderly. According to the brief research I did, it’s estimated that the number of people living with dementia worldwide is 44 million, and this is predicted to double by 2030. It is a humanitarian crisis that is affecting the entire world.
Chimera is a film that is seen through the confused eyes of a grandfather played by Dibyendu Chakroborty. One moment he is sat at a graffitied kitchen table, the next he is lost in the bed of his own room, unable to understand where he is. Sandeepan Nath’s cinematography and Halder’s editing help to visualise these puzzles for the audience, with Nath’s shots focusing on peeling walls and flickering lights creating a sense of unease, while Halder makes quick cuts to symbolise the different fading memories of the protagonist.
Chakroborty delivers an upsettingly and vulnerable performance, with the uncertainty of his thoughts and the attempts to avoid losing himself made clear. Swadhina Chakroborty as his daughter-in-law embodies the frustration and exhaustion many caregivers feel when they are relied upon too much and the emotional strain this takes. Even the rude, bratty grandson played by Kunal Chakraborty helps with the film’s realism.
“Chimera” is a mix of scary and sad moments, like a psychological horror movie and family drama rolled into one. The use of long shadows together with the sound design becomes distressing as we hear creaking floors, mumbled incoherences, and alarming squeals that make you feel like you are right in the middle of the family breakdown.
While Halder’s comments on the neglect of the elderly and the breakdown of a family unit hit home and his depiction of poverty and lack of readily available care are well made, Chimera leaves us feeling a little numb because, throughout its 15-minute runtime, the film remains completely and utterly bleak. Despite the short film’s length, the audience is given no time to breathe and take in the story before they are hit with another upsetting scene. But all in all, Halder’s talent does shine through creating memorable images and colours.
While the messages about mental health awareness are occasionally overshadowed by the disturbing moments, “Chimera” is a film that lingers, forcing us to confront the demons within our own homes. This includes that sense of neglect, misunderstanding, and the loss of human connection. Issues that remain even now, years after the COVID pandemic made the world stand still. Check out Chimera if you can.
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