The Pool (2007, Chris Smith)
Well, here's a new entry in my tentative top 20 (might finish in my top 15) of the 2000s! Venkatesh is an eighteen year old living in Panjim, Goa. He has a fascination with a swimming pool, and he often goes to look at it from atop a nearby tree. The owners of the property arrive, and we see Venkatesh watching them and the pool. He then thinks of a plan and carries it through on how to get to swim in the pool without doing so as a trespasser.
From that point on, the details of class divide build as does those of Venkatesh's relationship with the home owner, Nana (Nana Patekar, fantastic), and Nana's daughter, Ayesha (Ayesha Mohan, great and easy on the eyes), who doesn't get along with her father. Interspersed throughout Venkatesh's trips to the home as gardening help, we see him and his eleven year old friend, Jhangir (Jhangir Badshah, one of the most impressive non-professional acting performances by someone that young I've seen) work their jobs as a hotel worker and restaurant worker, respectively (along with their side job together).
Chris Smith is one of those filmmakers who believe God and the Devil are in the details. It's a joy to see them accumulate and form a portrait that feels lived-in and organic. And I love films with relationships (Venkatesh and Jhangir; Venkatesh and Nana) that remind me why life is so much better with them and makes me thankful for my long-lasting, meaningful ones. This is a touching film about grief and generosity.
Now there is a lot that I'm leaving out, and I'm sure I haven't succeeded in getting anyone excited or interested in seeing this film. But I will say that there is an action in the penultimate scene that is perhaps my favorite moment of any film of the past decade; thus, one for all time, personally. (I haven't been feeling much; feeling rather icy lately (e.g., kicking
Late Spring out of my Top 100).) That moment of recognition melted my heart and gave me a good cry, a good sized dose of humanism that I so love to get from film. People can be so awesome, you know? F*ckin' character who I shall not name, Chris Smith, cast, crew, and financers, bravo, bravo.
Sadly, this film is not on DVD, but it is available on Netflix Instant. And in the Spoiler thread for this film, I see that it played on the Sundance Channel not too long ago. Anyone looking for some warmth, I recommend you spend the time to watch this gem.