Review: As Dusk Falls (2025)

Jaskirat Singh's short film As Dusk Falls is a gentle story about the conflict between ambition and responsibility. It is occasioned by the dual intricacies of the present and the future. At its heart is a young Punjabi Man from Chandigarh, Navraj, who has dreamt of migrating to Canada. With his big brother already successful overseas, his desires seem natural and unavoidable. And so when his much-anticipated visa is eventually sanctioned, it is a victorious moment for him and his mother. But Navraj also has an aging grandmother at home, who deeply wishes for him to stay by her side. What ensues is a poignant unfolding of what it really is to depart from one’s home turf.  

The narrative subtly conveys the double-edged aspect of migration, and the shining promise of possibility wedded with an enduring pain of loss. As the day of Navraj's departure draws nearer, the narrative tenderly uncovers how much of his existence is inextricable from the tiny, unassuming routines of home, hanging out with his friends, making reels for social media, and the tender connection he has with his grandmother. But these emotional moments exist within an aura of realism that elevates the film from a level of unbearable pain to a more confronting area of the difficult decisions that define us.

It is such bonding that shapes the core of the film. The grandmother is not sentimentalised or reduced to an empty symbol of tradition. Instead, she appears as a living, breathing entity whose silent reliance on Navraj is deep and unspoken. Seeing Navraj struggle to get the words out to inform her that he will be leaving soon becomes an elegiac undertone in the story. At these moments, the film reveals a truth that transcends all cultures. More often than not, it's not fear of the unknown that keeps us back, but the pain of hurting those we love. By the time Navraj is on the verge of flying, the issue is no longer if he will get on that plane, but if he can really handle leaving parts of himself behind. It is not so much a tale about immigration as it is about the loving, frequently agonising bonds that make home. As the film comes to an end, it provides no tidy conclusions. Rather, it leaves us with a gentle pain. It is a gentle reminder that although the dream of a better future may be difficult, it is the ties of love and memory that define us. And it is often the most difficult travels that we take within ourselves.

The cinematography by Suyash Kamat beautifully complements the film’s gentle, introspective mood. His camera lingers on sunlit courtyards, streets, and the tender, everyday moments that define Navraj’s life at home. Each frame seems to carry a quiet longing, subtly capturing the warmth and weight of what Navraj stands to leave behind. The performance by Shahbaz Bajwa is understated, skillfully hinting at the turmoil beneath his optimistic facade. His grandmother's every look and touch tells a thousand words, often without needing one. 

As Dusk Falls was recently screened at the 25th New York Indian Film Festival.