In Retreat

Maisam Ali / India

Screening

ECIB

04-11-2025 / 19:30 h.

Film Information

Year: 2024

Duration: 74'

Language: VOSC

Genre: Drama

Synopsis

Somewhere between the end of autumn and the start of winter, a nameless nomad returns home to a small town in the mountains. Now in his 50s, he lives a lonely life. After missing his brother’s funeral, he lingers at the threshold of the old home. What else can he attain other than delaying one more night of his arrival? He ends up rambling through the night across lanes and streets of Ladakh.

Director

Maisam Ali Shah studied film direction in the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII). His short films, A Visit to Mourners’ Alley (2017) and Door Sham Tak (2018), have been screened internationally. As a filmmaker, he usually deals with the themes of home, belonging, journey and the sense of disconnect. His debut feature film, In Retreat (2024), was part of Cannes ACID selection and was selected for the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2024.