Movie spotlight
In 1992, teenager Sandi Tan shot Singapore's first indie road movie with her enigmatic American mentor Georges – who then vanished with all the footage. Twenty years later, the 16mm film is recovered, sending Tan, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on a personal odyssey in search of Georges' vanishing footprints.
Director Sandhya Suri revisits her personal archive of unfinished film projects, unearthing a forgotten, mysterious super-8 film made in her youth. She embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind the film and the people involved, blending personal history with a broader exploration of memory, trauma, and identity.
Shirkers was met with critical acclaim, praised for its innovative narrative structure, emotional depth, and Suri's personal vulnerability. Critics lauded its unique approach to documentary filmmaking, weaving together personal narrative, found footage, and archival material to create a compelling and thought-provoking experience.
A deeply personal and masterfully crafted documentary that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
Sandhya Suri's excavation of her past is both haunting and cathartic.
Visually striking and intellectually engaging, exploring themes of memory and censorship.
Google audience: Audiences and critics alike were deeply moved by Shirkers, appreciating its raw emotional honesty and Sandhya Suri's brave exploration of her past. Many found the film's unique blend of personal storytelling and cinematic mystery to be captivating and unforgettable.
Nominated for the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film incorporates Sandhya Suri's own unfinished film projects and explores the censorship she experienced as a young filmmaker in Singapore.
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Shirkers is an amazing documentary about being able to realize some version of a dream after it has been completely shattered. Anyone who has ever contemplated making a film or even got so far as making one has experienced what Sandi Tam di...